South Africa v England

[LostDoggy]

Very interesting series going on in South Africa at present. England won the first Test in a cracking match and taking SA to the cleaners in the 2nd (currently 5/513, with Stokes going beserk - 204 n.o. off 167 balls). Bit of a power shift going on at present, SA don't lose at home too often.

Apparently Stokes hit the 2nd fastest 200 in Test history.

[Twodogs]

Re: South Africa v England

Very interesting series going on in South Africa at present. England won the first Test in a cracking match and taking SA to the cleaners in the 2nd (currently 5/513, with Stokes going beserk - 204 n.o. off 167 balls). Bit of a power shift going on at present, SA don't lose at home too often.

Apparently Stokes hit the 2nd fastest 200 in Test history.

Did they say who hit the fastest?

[LostDoggy]

Re: South Africa v England

Nathan Astle. 200 off 153 - Stokes took 163.

How's this stat - Sehwag has 5 of the 10 fastest 200s in Test history.

[Twodogs]

Re: South Africa v England

Nathan Astle. 200 off 153 - Stokes took 163.

How's this stat - Sehwag has 5 of the 10 fastest 200s in Test history.

Just heard the statistics for his knock. 130 runs scored before lunch is a new record breaking Les Ames 123 v South Africa in the 30s. 258 is the highest score for a #6 in test history (I'm not quite sure about that). 30 fours, 11 sixes = 186. Partnership of 399 with John Bairstow.

[lemmon]

Re: South Africa v England

De Villiers and Amla at the crease batting to rescue the game. Fitting that the two best South African batsman of this generation are the last resistance to the empire crumbling

[Twodogs]

Re: South Africa v England

De Villiers and Amla at the crease batting to rescue the game. Fitting that the two best South African batsman of this generation are the last resistance to the empire crumbling

Not a Graeme Smith fan? I'd have him ahead of Amla for leadership alone. Amla has really struggled with the captaincy. Speaking of which why is De Villiers not the captain of SA? Amla plainly doesn't want to do the job and De Villiers is really keen.

I cant understand why you would force someone to be captain. You have to want to lead people and have a certain mindset, you cant just phone it in.

[ledge]

Re: South Africa v England

Not a Graeme Smith fan? I'd have him ahead of Amla for leadership alone. Amla has really struggled with the captaincy. Speaking of which why is De Villiers not the captain of SA? Amla plainly doesn't want to do the job and De Villiers is really keen.

I cant understand why you would force someone to be captain. You have to want to lead people and have a certain mindset, you cant just phone it in.

Obviously SA hasn't learnt from the Griffen experiment.

[Sedat]

Re: South Africa v England

Great last day of the test so far. Saffers have prised out 6 wickets with still enough time to get the last 4 and chase down under 175. After the Stokes carnage on day 2, they have shown tremendous backbone to bounce back hard with both bat and ball. Critical next 30 minutes coming up.

[Bornadog]

Re: South Africa v England

Great last day of the test so far. Saffers have prised out 6 wickets with still enough time to get the last 4 and chase down under 175. After the Stokes carnage on day 2, they have shown tremendous backbone to bounce back hard with both bat and ball. Critical next 30 minutes coming up.

Unbelievable test match to date.

[Twodogs]

Re: South Africa v England

Bad light stops play. Draw

[Bornadog]

Re: South Africa v England

Amla resigns as captain and de Villiers takes over.

[LostDoggy]

Re: South Africa v England

Amla's last innings as Captain was 201 - that shows character.

[Webby]

Re: South Africa v England

Amla resigns as captain and de Villiers takes over.

I really rate Amla, but that's the right move. As soon as the South Africans saw the light and got the best batsman in the world (in my opinion) out of the keeper's gloves, there was an inevitability about it.

De Villiers is a special, special cricketer and a natural leader. There's a synergy about the South Africans now. I'm hopeful that they can roll the Poms in the third Test.

[LostDoggy]

Re: South Africa v England

The key will be getting Steyn and Philander back. They are arguably the best 2 fast bowlers in the world and the back up bowlers very average by comparison.

[Webby]

Re: South Africa v England

Steyn is the best in my opinion, whilst, on his day, Philander reminds me of Malcolm Marshall (which is as big as praise gets!!)

However, word I'm getting is that neither will be fit. The Poms are pretty tinny to be getting the Saffas without those two. It's a bit like getting the Cleveland Cavaliers minus Lebron James..

Didn't stop a lot of my Pom mates spruiking after day 2, however!!