England in South Africa

[fatcatstu]

Steyn is just beast, the emotion and aggression he plays with is brilliant to see.

Something you don't tend to get from our lads.

Probably has something to do with schools and junior club cricket. Even when I was growing up any aggression and emotion led to a bollocking from the senior pros for being disrespectful.

At club level I don't mind a bit of aggression, but if they are bowling all of 60mph it doesn't have the same effect.

I'm VC of our second team, and we have an opening bowler who gets up to about 75mph and he has a bit of a nasty streak about him, loves a stare and a mutter.

I personally giggle when bowlers do it to me, they don't realise I will get out without all the histrionics if they put a 12 year old spinner on.

[KarmaDope]

Steyn is just beast, the emotion and aggression he plays with is brilliant to see.

Something you don't tend to get from our lads.

Probably has something to do with schools and junior club cricket. Even when I was growing up any aggression and emotion led to a bollocking from the senior pros for being disrespectful.

At club level I don't mind a bit of aggression, but if they are bowling all of 60mph it doesn't have the same effect.

I'm VC of our second team, and we have an opening bowler who gets up to about 75mph and he has a bit of a nasty streak about him, loves a stare and a mutter.

I personally giggle when bowlers do it to me, they don't realise I will get out without all the histrionics if they put a 12 year old spinner on.

True, it is annoying though. In my league - which granted is a bit shit - its frowned upon to bowl bouncers by the elder statesmen of the team because most batsmen dont bother wearing a helmet, and if bowlers do bowl short pitched deliveries, some captains take them off!

There is a point to this - we need more aggression in junior cricket imo.

[horseplayer]

Good solid recovery this

Shame the excellent Nasser is left behind in the studio, cost cutting with the expense of the new football deal no doubt

[fatcatstu]

Is there a point in bowling 60mph bouncers tho? IMO the game needs to be played in the right spirit at club level, I don't turn up ons Saturday to have some chav talking huge amounts of crap when they are rubbish.

We have banned sledging in our side, unless it is directed at your own team, then it is mandatory!!


Taylor and Compton looking solid here, never thought I would be impressed with Compton, but he is just grinding away.

Taylor is my favorite player in the team. Love him.Q

[TightEnd]

such a shame that for Taylor, tremendous partnership

[KarmaDope]

Was just a good ball. The last couple had come into him and this one just held the line/moved very slightly away. Nothing he could do about that, great innings.

Looking at the pitch though I really wish we had Jimmy fit.

[verndog158]

After losing that toss, on this deck. Think England won't be too unhappy with that day? Shame about Taylor. Looks the goods too

[Longy]

those of you out there try, if the weather improves, to spend a couple of hours on the beach at uhmlanga rocks, about a 15 minute drive down the coast from durban

the waves are fantastic, as is the setting.

Unfortunately we have no car here and I wouldn't be surprised to see the test go 5 days. If we do get a spare day will definitely take the tip, thanks.

Thought Taylor and Compton were very good yesterday, a case of substance over style. Think both should have been in the side earlier/ stayed in the side, they give the batting order some solidity we have enough to accelerate the pace later on.

Oh and the beer is about a pound pint in the ground and tickets are about 4 quid for a full day's play different world to back home.

[vegaslover]

those of you out there try, if the weather improves, to spend a couple of hours on the beach at uhmlanga rocks, about a 15 minute drive down the coast from durban

the waves are fantastic, as is the setting.

Unfortunately we have no car here and I wouldn't be surprised to see the test go 5 days. If we do get a spare day will definitely take the tip, thanks.

Thought Taylor and Compton were very good yesterday, a case of substance over style. Think both should have been in the side earlier/ stayed in the side, they give the batting order some solidity we have enough to accelerate the pace later on.

Oh and the beer is about a pound pint in the ground and tickets are about 4 quid for a full day's play different world to back home.

Haha, Love hove yu still manage to find the value
Hope the weather is better for you today

[edgascoigne]

those of you out there try, if the weather improves, to spend a couple of hours on the beach at uhmlanga rocks, about a 15 minute drive down the coast from durban

the waves are fantastic, as is the setting.

Unfortunately we have no car here and I wouldn't be surprised to see the test go 5 days. If we do get a spare day will definitely take the tip, thanks.

Thought Taylor and Compton were very good yesterday, a case of substance over style. Think both should have been in the side earlier/ stayed in the side, they give the batting order some solidity we have enough to accelerate the pace later on.

Oh and the beer is about a pound pint in the ground and tickets are about 4 quid for a full day's play different world to back home.

Haha, Love hove yu still manage to find the value
Hope the weather is better for you today

Longy - if you do make it to Umhlanga then the Oyster Box should be your restaurant of choice. Uber available so don't sweat not having a car.

[nellberg]

After grafting so hard we're back under the pump here.

Pound a pint and a bit of sun today, that's the dream

[fatcatstu]

Can anyone at all remind me at what point Moeen Ali was deemed good enough to be an international batsman?

[nirvana]

Bit dissapointing after all the solid work. Need broad to be at the top of his game to stay in this I think

[nellberg]

43/4 in the last ten overs ... depth of batting in the tail on paper not worked out this time. New ball obviously key to England's chances, you'd fancy having a go at Elgar and Van Zyl

[fatcatstu]

Who is going to open with Broad? Woakes would be my guess. Hardly inspiring.

God Im a right miserable bastard today.