yeah we are but our bowling needs to be as good as theirs or even better

Imagine how bad this would be if we had Bairstow rather than Pope.

Pope

Pope 'out' - but it was off a no-ball. England 262-9 at the close. Another poor performance overall.

Decent effort from Pope. His runs even more valuable given the low scores from the rest of the side.

generous 5/10 day for me

comment by Phendombele (U20037)
posted 1 hour, 51 minutes ago
generous 5/10 day for me
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That's probably what you'd give most the batsman. Maybe a 5.5 for Stokes so 5/10 for the whole day. Pope did well and hopefully he and Jimmy can frustrate SA for a bit tomorrow but imagine it'll be all done by the second or third over.

Just seen Broad’s dismissal

If there’s a moment that summed up our test side currently that was it. Pure comedy.

Only 7 added, RSA rattling along at 4 an over, no swing and the slowest pace attack in the world. Terrific

Yes Broady

Stokes is probably going to have to bowl a lot more today than he'd like though.

Looks very flat when the good batsman are on strike. If we can stop Elgar, Faf and De Kock from going big we should win the game. The rest of their line up is worse than ours.

Ohh Jimmy Jimmy

Huge wicket.

Jimmy and Broad still doing the business.

Looks absolutely glorious out there, would love to do an overseas match one day.

To think they consdered dropping one of Broad and Anderson if Archer had been fit.

comment by Everywhere you go always take Lamela with you (U7905)
posted 15 minutes ago
Looks very flat when the good batsman are on strike. If we can stop Elgar, Faf and De Kock from going big we should win the game. The rest of their line up is worse than ours.
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Really don't rate Faf myself

Bess on quite early. Needs a good day after his golden duck yesterday.

Decent partnership from SA here although if we can take a couple of wickets even by the time they get to 150 then it'll be pretty even.

Bess is bowling pretty well here in keeping an end tight. Hopefully we will reap the reward of that with fresh quicks throughout the day.

Interesting and valid point about no balls is we are seeing so many more "wickets" fall from no balls is because umpires aren't calling them. Bowlers probably bowl so many in a day that don't get called so they don't adjust. Bowlers shouldnt be getting close but they need to be given the chance to adjust if they are going over. Down to lazy umpiring.

It is lazy, yes. It's not like it's hard work to glance down each delivery. I've always managed whenever I umpire.

How many no ball wickets have we bowled in the last 18 months or so, absolutely ridiculous.

Is there anything more infuriating in cricket for a captain?

Perhaps somebody who has played cricket to a good level can enlighten me as to the how much of a difference that extra half foot of run up pushing the line makes to the point quality of the delivery bowled. I’ve only played to a low level but I always facking made sure my foot is behind the line.

Taking the risk is never something I’ve understood. Honestly when you are playing international cricket and virtually every wicket you take is checked why the fack would you take the chance for the extra half a foot??

We've been told many times that bowlers are seen bowling big no balls in the nets. Why do the coaches allow this, it creates bad habits.

This game is moving rapidly out of England's control and England have only two effective bowlers, Broad and Anderson. Sam Curren is totally ineffective and Stokes offers little threat.

Can anyone explain Joss Buttler's innings? Came in at 190 odd for 5 down and comes out swinging? Fair enough if it was 8 or 9 down but that was completely irresponsible. This whole "I'm going to play the way I know" is not test cricket.