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South Africa 56-1 at lunch. Despite the low run-rate they'll be the happier team, having seen off the new ball for the loss of just one wicket in tricky conditions. On a side note, a bit frustrating and disappointing to see Root capitulate so quickly to an irate Stokes demanding a review for a really poor LBW shout. Take your time, Joe. Consult the keeper. Don't just go upstairs because Stokes has got steam coming out of his ears.
"I would rather spend a holiday in Tuscany than in the Black Country, but if I were compelled to choose between living in West Bromwich or Florence, I should make straight for West Bromwich." - J.B. Priestley
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309-6 at close of play, decent England comeback after a tough two sessions, but Morris and Philander put together a solid partnership to see out the day. Have to aim for the breakthrough early doors tomorrow, then see if we can restrict them to under 400, maybe even 350.
"I would rather spend a holiday in Tuscany than in the Black Country, but if I were compelled to choose between living in West Bromwich or Florence, I should make straight for West Bromwich." - J.B. Priestley
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England all out for 205, a first-innings deficit of 130. Good bowling from South Africa, but nowhere near enough caution from England at the crease. Should have learned from South Africa's batting yesterday. Going to need something special now.
"I would rather spend a holiday in Tuscany than in the Black Country, but if I were compelled to choose between living in West Bromwich or Florence, I should make straight for West Bromwich." - J.B. Priestley
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South Africa 75-1 at close of play, very much their day. We'll have to bulldoze them tomorrow to have a hope in this one.
"I would rather spend a holiday in Tuscany than in the Black Country, but if I were compelled to choose between living in West Bromwich or Florence, I should make straight for West Bromwich." - J.B. Priestley
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People say we have a world class middle order. I don't see it. We have shakey openers and have done since strauss. A dodgy number three, quality 4, a number 5 who could be world class, atm he's just a very good international player, maybe batting one too high with the gloves. A number 6 who's hit and miss with both bat and ball, great one innings average the next. Ali has moments of magic and moments of calamity, some of the shots he gets out to highlight why he shouldn't bat higher up. As for dawson, main spinner? Newp- weak link. Allrounder? County level maybe, test no, as much an allrounder as broad. Need woakes back and a look at everything, some of the results just paper over the cracks.
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Driving back from Stockport listening to Sir Geoffrey having a rant about the batting, trouble is these days get them away from flat tracks were the ball does sod all and they can't cope, didn't see a lot of it yesterday but credit to South Africa they put the ball in the right place and let it do the rest.
We seem to have the attitude that the ball has to go for four every ballm, vry few of them know how to build a long innings.
Trouble is with the pub league game now being played there is no four day games for them to get back to form
Have you heard about the news on Mizar 5
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Personally I think the limited overs game has put waste to hameed for this season. In india he was highly watchful, this season he chasing it. Some of englands players are naturally attacking like stokes and ali, bairstow is more of a counter attacker. The middle order is missing someone who can dog an innings out like colly did for us or faf has done in the past for saffers
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South Africa set a total of 474 for England to win, Cook and Jennings make it safely to close, 1-0. Going to be a pretty thankless task out there tomorrow, but Root needs to get the boys together and instil the right attitude in them before the morning. They could embarrass themselves by coming out swinging and collapse to a heavy defeat, or they could dig in, play it patient and sensible and actually make a decent fist of the run-chase.
"I would rather spend a holiday in Tuscany than in the Black Country, but if I were compelled to choose between living in West Bromwich or Florence, I should make straight for West Bromwich." - J.B. Priestley
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Jennings and Ballance gone in the first hour. Cook and Root at the crease; it was always going to come down to this partnership, need them to still be there towards the end of the day to stand any real hope.
"I would rather spend a holiday in Tuscany than in the Black Country, but if I were compelled to choose between living in West Bromwich or Florence, I should make straight for West Bromwich." - J.B. Priestley
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England all out for 133, South Africa win by 340 runs. Abysmal, but sadly predictable too. When the going gets tough the mentality is all wrong.
"I would rather spend a holiday in Tuscany than in the Black Country, but if I were compelled to choose between living in West Bromwich or Florence, I should make straight for West Bromwich." - J.B. Priestley
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