England in South Africa

[nellberg]

Worth laying the draw here? Yes, the pitch looks flat atm but did a bit for the new ball and they've scored so quick they haven't taken much time out of the game. 6/4 short on day 1 for the draw

[fatcatstu]

Worth laying the draw here? Yes, the pitch looks flat atm but did a bit for the new ball and they've scored so quick they haven't taken much time out of the game. 6/4 short on day 1 for the draw

Completely without any stats to back me up here as well, but dont we usually get a tonking when we already have the series won? They look a bit flat to me here, and that will translate to the batting too IMO.

Could be a very good bet.

[TightEnd]

england are terrible in dead rubbers

last five LLDDL

They went off underdogs for the first three tests, won two of them

went off favourite here and have peformed with much less intensity

think its a big ask to expect england to bat and bat to save a game when 2-0 up

would be against a draw.

[nellberg]

Took the 10/11 about the saffers, normally wait a bit longer into a test but we look very much like the job is done and subconsciously eased off

[fatcatstu]

Wow, quite the collpase going on here! Including one for that useless git Woakes :p

[nellberg]

Good fightback after tea, then just let it slip again with the 2nd new ball. Saffers have a long enough tail like, few quick wickets in the morning when bowlers are fresh with ball only 10 overs old and the game could be back in the balance.

[rinswun]

Backed Amla as top SA batam. Feeling a bit hard done by!

[buzzharvey22]

We really struggle to bat to save a test match.

[vegaslover]

I havent called for Bairstow to be dropped, yes, he should be taking some of these chances, but he will improve, and offers the team more with the bat than Butler does.

Woakes has played both white ball and red ball cricket now for England, and has hardly excelled, you know exactly what he is going to give you, he is a worse bowler than Stokes for me, yet he is meant to be our 3rd seamer.

From the noises coming out of the England camp, Footitt is far from pleasant to face in the nets, but England have always been conservative in their selections, hence why it took so long to get Taylor into the team. Out bowling attack needs variety, which it doesnt have with this current look.

When Anderson retires, I have no doubt that Woakes will be the one the plonk in to replace him, that fills me with dread.

The Kerrigan example is a bit extreme if you ask me! Yes, he was pants, but it shouldnt stop you from throwing someone in there if they look like they could have that X factor that international attacks need. Woakes is definitely NOT that man. Footitt could be, but I fear that we will never find out.

England took too many bowlers imo. Waste of a month for some of them. Could see Footitt getting experience as first time touring etc but total waste of time Jordan going at all. He was never going to be picked so why bother.
With England always appalling in dead rubbers would defo have given Footitt a chance.
Seeing how bad the catching has been Jordan could of been more use in the slips

[horseplayer]

England have won the series

[nellberg]

Rabada blowing it open here, looks a prospect. Similar to Finn, he'll go for some runs but takes regular wickets.

[TightEnd]

Backed Amla as top SA batam. Feeling a bit hard done by!

i can beat that

stephen cook at 6-1

went past amla

numbers 6 and down at the crease, 115 to beat

value loser!

[verndog158]

disagree with tighty slighty, sure Woakes is the like replacement for Jimmy and maybe Broad, but Finn is a much different bowler. footitt is a like for like replacement and keeps the attack more balanced. shame think everyone apart from bayliss would have picked footitt!

so a good tour then, probably a loss in this one, but a series win is huge.

Positives and negatives?

Still questions over Hales, Compton, Taylor and probably Bairstow? in my opinion

Stokes looks like a test cricketer now. Bowling is fine, pleased to win a series without Jimmy having a stormer!

Root is class.

Be good to see Cook get to 10,000 in the second innings too

[fatcatstu]

Bairstow has hit well over 300 runs, dont think there is any doubt over him, Hales HAS to be given time to find his feet, we cant keep jsut throwing people on the scrap heap or we will never find anyone. Compton the jury is still out, i think it looks worse than it perhaps is with the way he bats, its bloody turgid to watch. Taylor has shown enough during his career so far IMO to jsut let him keep going, he is class and will come good.

[buzzharvey22]

England have to give an opener a run of at least 10 matches. Otherwise every opener who comes in is under so much pressure as they know they are only getting 4 matches/a series to make a knock.

I think Maybe the reason why footitt didnt get the nod is because Mark Wood us probably Finns like for like replacement and footitt is probably 3rd in line for that spot. Whereas woakes os probably 2nd inline for the "swing" bowler in the attack.