26-12-2015, 23:56
bit late but, england close on 179-4 with rain affecting the days play as well as the fear of lightening and bad light.
cook out first, caught at slip, well more a case of him giving catching practice. he had no foot movement, but the south africans showed that they had a plan when it came to bowling to him, putting it on the 4/5 stump and threatening to bring it back into him. even cook was going to feel at one at somepoint.
hales was doing okay, looking to cover the ball that came back into his stumps whilst also looking to be positive, but that resulted in him chasing one outside off stump before he had properly settled down, also no foot movement let him down. steyn picking up both wickets and in the early overs he looked very dangerous and quicker than what was coming up on the speed gun.
compton and root rebuilt for a little while with compton being dogged and not letting his wicket go cheaply, probably what we have needed since trott suffered his unfortunate problems. he dealt with a couple of jaffers but did well to miss them where others would have snicked it. root was his usual self trying to take the game back to them and also dealt with good deliveries but was largley untroubled until he went back to dane piedt's first ball, which did turn a little but left root lbw with the ball clipping the top of middle.
taylor has a very fidgety style at the crease but it worked as he and compton dropped anchor and rebuilt the innings, taylor made up for the last time he played the proteas and today his style nullified the spin and any movement the pacers got. he looked set in my opinion and well placed to reach the end of play, however, steyn got one to move and taylor followed it and gave an easy catch behind.
england go into tomorrow with ben stokes and compton at the crease and in all fairness, if stokes gets his eye in on this wicket then it could be another lords event. pitch is playing well and the carry is looking very good. cant help but think that england are lacking a pure pace man in general, plunkett isnt there nor is wood, but they are neither a morkel or steyn, even abbott was clocking mid 140's. finn could reach that but he seems to have settled for a 135-137 average which is fair enough if it works for him, but again we dont have anyone that can push a batter back with shear pace, bounce yes, pace no. then again our pitches dont suit that bowling so maybe the new rules may change that....
be interesting to see how our bowlers go on this wicket still, broad may enjoy it as it offers a bit of movement, woakes may also prove useful if he bowls like he does in the county games. i think the wicket will continue to offer something for all the bowlers. all in all this is a wicket that test cricket and cricket in general should be played on
cook out first, caught at slip, well more a case of him giving catching practice. he had no foot movement, but the south africans showed that they had a plan when it came to bowling to him, putting it on the 4/5 stump and threatening to bring it back into him. even cook was going to feel at one at somepoint.
hales was doing okay, looking to cover the ball that came back into his stumps whilst also looking to be positive, but that resulted in him chasing one outside off stump before he had properly settled down, also no foot movement let him down. steyn picking up both wickets and in the early overs he looked very dangerous and quicker than what was coming up on the speed gun.
compton and root rebuilt for a little while with compton being dogged and not letting his wicket go cheaply, probably what we have needed since trott suffered his unfortunate problems. he dealt with a couple of jaffers but did well to miss them where others would have snicked it. root was his usual self trying to take the game back to them and also dealt with good deliveries but was largley untroubled until he went back to dane piedt's first ball, which did turn a little but left root lbw with the ball clipping the top of middle.
taylor has a very fidgety style at the crease but it worked as he and compton dropped anchor and rebuilt the innings, taylor made up for the last time he played the proteas and today his style nullified the spin and any movement the pacers got. he looked set in my opinion and well placed to reach the end of play, however, steyn got one to move and taylor followed it and gave an easy catch behind.
england go into tomorrow with ben stokes and compton at the crease and in all fairness, if stokes gets his eye in on this wicket then it could be another lords event. pitch is playing well and the carry is looking very good. cant help but think that england are lacking a pure pace man in general, plunkett isnt there nor is wood, but they are neither a morkel or steyn, even abbott was clocking mid 140's. finn could reach that but he seems to have settled for a 135-137 average which is fair enough if it works for him, but again we dont have anyone that can push a batter back with shear pace, bounce yes, pace no. then again our pitches dont suit that bowling so maybe the new rules may change that....
be interesting to see how our bowlers go on this wicket still, broad may enjoy it as it offers a bit of movement, woakes may also prove useful if he bowls like he does in the county games. i think the wicket will continue to offer something for all the bowlers. all in all this is a wicket that test cricket and cricket in general should be played on
