England in South Africa

[TightEnd]

Test Match Special ‏@bbctms

Here's the Wanderers pitch which the groundsman says will provide a result, but is not a "green mamba"

Click to see full-size image.

[TightEnd]

and Steyn confirmed out again

[nellberg]

and Steyn confirmed out again

I had hoped they'd play a half-fit Steyn, and go with 4 seamers leaving out Piedt (who's probably been their best bowler)

[fatcatstu]

and Steyn confirmed out again

I had hoped they'd play a half-fit Steyn, and go with 4 seamers leaving out Piedt (who's probably been their best bowler)

They still might, Abbott is back fit, and they could chose to go with a full pace attack on a ground that historically helps pace bowlers.

Personally like Anderson for top bowler this match, he should have some fun.

[horseplayer]

Draw been popular last few hours

Showers predicted most days If not all explains that

[nellberg]

If they go with 4 seamers, do they need to pick Duminy as a back-up spinner? if so, the chat was he'd bat 7, De Kock would open and they'd drop Van Zyl. All of those options would be positive for England imo.

Jimmy looked under-cooked last test, with better prep for this game he should be more on the money. Still like Finn's knack of taking wickets for that kind of market, his test strike-rate is sick.

See of blue on oddschecker for the draw, still outsider of the 3 though

[arbboy]

Is the draw still always way too short like it was for years in Test matches wherever it was played just because of the asian market dominating the price or does that not exist anymore?  I barely follow the cricket markets at all nowadays so i might be talking total rubbish.

[TightEnd]

Is the draw still always way too short like it was for years in Test matches wherever it was played just because of the asian market dominating the price or does that not exist anymore?  I barely follow the cricket markets at all nowadays so i might be talking total rubbish.

don't know about that but the draw is usually too short these days because the game is changing

faster scoring rates, one day techniques into batting, more play because of better drainage, better covers, regulations allow you to make up time, play under floodlights etc etc

eg 1 of the last 10 tests at joburg (pace, bounce) has been a draw

two years ago india set sa 470 and sa were 10 short of chasing it down at joburg. every other game has seen a result

mixed weather this time (assuming most of the voers are bowled, time is made up) will help make sportier conditions=more wickets

draw way too short here

[BorntoBubble]

What are these odds all about for over under runs?

Why are all the lines so low? What am I missing here?

https://m.ladbrokes.com/en-gb/#!event_details?id=221476406

[nellberg]

Is the draw still always way too short like it was for years in Test matches wherever it was played just because of the asian market dominating the price or does that not exist anymore?  I barely follow the cricket markets at all nowadays so i might be talking total rubbish.

don't know about that but the draw is usually too short these days because the game is changing

faster scoring rates, one day techniques into batting, more play because of better drainage, better covers, regulations allow you to make up time, play under floodlights etc etc

eg 1 of the last 10 tests at joburg (pace, bounce) has been a draw

two years ago india set sa 470 and sa were 10 short of chasing it down at joburg. every other game has seen a result

mixed weather this time (assuming most of the voers are bowled, time is made up) will help make sportier conditions=more wickets

draw way too short here

There is a thread on the betty forum where they go through all the P/L if you'd backed/layed each eventuality for the past x number of years of test cricket. laying the draw would have made you significant money in the past few years apparently.

[TightEnd]

What are these odds all about for over under runs?

Why are all the lines so low? What am I missing here?

https://m.ladbrokes.com/en-gb/#!event_details?id=221476406

top team score at the venue this year in first class cricket 316

over 90% of the wickets fallen to pace

good cricketing wicket, not 600 plays 600

[BorntoBubble]

What are these odds all about for over under runs?

Why are all the lines so low? What am I missing here?

https://m.ladbrokes.com/en-gb/#!event_details?id=221476406

top team score at the venue this year in first class cricket 316

over 90% of the wickets fallen to pace

good cricketing wicket, not 600 plays 600

Cheers was about to unload the clip, was waiting for spin indexes to come up but seemed to good to be true hence why I asked

[fatcatstu]

If they go with 4 seamers, do they need to pick Duminy as a back-up spinner? if so, the chat was he'd bat 7, De Kock would open and they'd drop Van Zyl. All of those options would be positive for England imo.

Jimmy looked under-cooked last test, with better prep for this game he should be more on the money. Still like Finn's knack of taking wickets for that kind of market, his test strike-rate is sick.

See of blue on oddschecker for the draw, still outsider of the 3 though

Their whole lineup is all over at the minute, but I like the idea of Jimmy getting at De Kock with the new ball swinging about early doors, Van Zyl has not really looked the part yet.

If I were them, on this wicket, I would go Morkel, Abbott, Morris, and Rabada with Duminy to give them a bit of a break.

[arbboy]

Is the draw still always way too short like it was for years in Test matches wherever it was played just because of the asian market dominating the price or does that not exist anymore?  I barely follow the cricket markets at all nowadays so i might be talking total rubbish.

don't know about that but the draw is usually too short these days because the game is changing

faster scoring rates, one day techniques into batting, more play because of better drainage, better covers, regulations allow you to make up time, play under floodlights etc etc

eg 1 of the last 10 tests at joburg (pace, bounce) has been a draw

two years ago india set sa 470 and sa were 10 short of chasing it down at joburg. every other game has seen a result

mixed weather this time (assuming most of the voers are bowled, time is made up) will help make sportier conditions=more wickets

draw way too short here

There is a thread on the betty forum where they go through all the P/L if you'd backed/layed each eventuality for the past x number of years of test cricket. laying the draw would have made you significant money in the past few years apparently.

This is mainly historically because of the huge amount of mug cash in the illegal markets for the draw in asia (bf price is always right though!).  I hadn't considered the changing aspects of the game which probably make laying the draw nowadays even more value than it ever was.

[TightEnd]

Dane Piedt left out by SA for 3rd T so Hardus Viljoen (296 1st-c wickets @ 25) could make debut. Duminy for Van Zyl with de Kock opening?