England v South Africa - 1st Test @ Lord's

[SUFC Forever]

SA won the toss and put England in to bat.

3 overs gone, no runs on the board yet and the ball barely getting up from the SA quicks on this wicket.

 

[sufcintheprem]

lucky not to have dropped a wicket so far but the new ball spell's gone without the batsmen having to play particularly well

 

[BILLERICAY BLUE]

35-0 off 12 overs, good steady start.

 

[Shrimper2thecore]

Would be nice to get a start, as we have not racked up 400 in the opening innings for far too long

 

[canveyshrimper]

Slow but sure so far, just realised that Darryl Harper is one of the upmires!

 

[Ailsa Road Shrimper]

A slow scoring start to a test match, I prefer that to 20twenty cricket anyday!

 

[sufcintheprem]

Pretty dull morning so far really - I can't imagine the neutrals will still be watching. Strauss looks like a player out of form as he just can't seem tog et the ball away. Cook is playing more loosely but has probably scored most of his runs through fourth slip.

Hard to know how to feel after that as, to be honest, nothing's really happened this morning. I suppose it's ideal in some ways but really, if you want to force a result, I think you have to be scoring around 3.5 on this wicket, especially with rain on the way. No surprise to see the draw at around 4/5

 

[number11]

A slow scoring start to a test match, I prefer that to 20twenty cricket anyday!

Agreed. I have to say that Ive seen a fair bit of the 20twenty lately, including going to a few of the games at Chelmsford, and it is great entertainment. However I still cant get over the feeling that its all a bit too much to chance who ends up winning, and there is a saturation of boundaries / big hits etc. This mornings test session sounds like it was a real examination of the batsmen and bowlers.

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

Agreed. I have to say that Ive seen a fair bit of the 20twenty lately, including going to a few of the games at Chelmsford, and it is great entertainment. However I still cant get over the feeling that its all a bit too much to chance who ends up winning, and there is a saturation of boundaries / big hits etc. This mornings test session sounds like it was a real examination of the batsmen and bowlers.

Agree entirely that 20:20 cricket is inferior to test cricket. It is so much harder to win a test match when you have to take 20 wickets and beat the clock than win a 20:20 game when a couple of good overs puts you ahead and forces the opposition to take too many risks.

However this morning wasn't really examining. South Africa bowled poorly. Morne Harmison bowled quickly but sprayed it both sides of the wicket and looked raw.Their attack looked undercooked and possibly one-dimensional unless Kallis bowls a lot of overs. I get the feeling they all want to be bowling from the same end and they miss a Pollock to bowl into the wind and keep things tight whilst still probing.

That said, I expect South Africa to bounce back strongly after lunch. Steyn should have been used from the other end earlier and will presumably get a longer bowl with the wind after lunch to try and get some rhythm.

Cook survived a dodgy spell half an hour before lunch when he played and missed a few and edged a few through gaps in the field, but otherwise England weren't really troubled. Can't remember South Africa having an appeal all session, so very much England's session.

 

[number11]

Agree entirely that 20:20 cricket is inferior to test cricket. It is so much harder to win a test match when you have to take 20 wickets and beat the clock than win a 20:20 game when a couple of good overs puts you ahead and forces the opposition to take too many risks.

However this morning wasn't really examining. South Africa bowled poorly. Morne Harmison bowled quickly but sprayed it both sides of the wicket and looked raw.Their attack looked undercooked and possibly one-dimensional unless Kallis bowls a lot of overs. I get the feeling they all want to be bowling from the same end and they miss a Pollock to bowl into the wind and keep things tight whilst still probing.

Yes sorry, I didnt mean an examination in terms of surviving quality bowling...but more that a session like this mornings is an examination of the character of a player that 20twenty cannot provide. Sounds like Cook and Strauss were not given much to hit but they had to keep their calm and temperment to not go chasing. The bowlers had a poor time of it by all accounts, but they have the chance to regroup and start again. In 20Twenty, if you come in, block first ball, get out second ball slogging, you are not really going to be blamed too much wheras in test matches in most situations your wicket is priceless....I like the fact test cricket is a prolonged test of ability and temperment in varying situations, rather then have a whack and see if it pays off!

Cant grumble too much about the start this morning but it has now got gloomier and that could chance the way the ball is behaving a bit. Nice to get a solid start though.

 

[The General]

With this start we should most definetly be making 400 for the first time in 12 attempts!

 

[number11]

With this start we should most definetly be making 400 for the first time in 12 attempts!

Neg Rep coming your way if you have jinxed us ..... ;)

 

[number11]

Hundred partnership is up.... :clap:

 

[The General]

When are these bowlers going to try and hit the stumps?! Nasser spotted it early (as did i) and they still haven't learnt!

Kev

 

[The General]

Like the way Nasser just gave Naps a mention during the test series!!

 

[Napster]

Like the way Nasser just gave Naps a mention during the test series!!

eh? :stunned:

 

[The General]

Oh. Gawd. Taxi, please!

 

[Napster]

Oh. Gawd. Taxi, please!

;) hahaha. Gotcha.

 

[The General]

Im not sure you do! We just lost wickets. Quick wickets, infact!

In relation to Naps, they were talking about how "bulky some of the SA lads are looking!

Kev

 

[sufcintheprem]

However this morning wasn't really examining. South Africa bowled poorly. Morne Harmison bowled quickly but sprayed it both sides of the wicket and looked raw.T

Funnily enough the ball which got Cook had me thinking of Harmison in the good old days of Harmison.