World Test Championship Final, South Africa v Australia - Lord's 11-16 June

[whythelongface]

Marnus was looking solid but exposed again just outside off. Definitely didn’t like him as an opener and still don’t.

[jeemak]

Marnus was looking solid but exposed again just outside off. Definitely didn’t like him as an opener and still don’t.

Almost feel the naivety of Konstas opening versus those with fear of the known mightn't have been the worst way to go. Maybe even Head opening instead.

It all centres around not having any ****ing idea as to why Green is in the team as a bat solely...........did he smash the domestic season after coming back from injury or wherever the hell he was this last test summer?

[whythelongface]

Can Konstas bat in these conditions? Probably the question the selectors were asking. I get the whole horses for courses but gee if he is our long term opener we need to give him every opportunity. If not now, when?

Green is there on reputation. Hit a couple of centuries of late (2nd Division County not much chop) thus had reasonable form coming in but certainly nowhere near this level of bowling

[jeemak]

It was just ****ing meek. Come out and punch the ****s in the face and take it up to them. We're the big dogs in this test and we open with two conservative players, followed up by someone who isn't a three.......terrible management/ selection.

I hate down leg side caught behinds. No excuse for it.

[whythelongface]

Great fightback by Smith and Webster. Smith is in a rare run of form. Hoping he can make another century.

[whythelongface]

Shit and then he gets out.

[GVGjr]

Thank goodness for Webster
Losing Smith to Markham was bad for us.

[jeemak]

How bad has Bavuma been with reviews? Didn't chase one when it was all pad and no bat, and then chased one where it was all bat and no pad.

Innings could almost have been wrapped up by now on the basis of that.

A score of 325 wouldn't be the worst start and is now attainable.

SAF have been excellent in the field. Jansen looks a real talent with the ball and in the field.

[jeemak]

Wow that all went to shit pretty quickly!

All out for 212. Terrible from the tail, but hopefully we see some movement with the ball in the back end of the day. Credit to SAF for a disciplined performance.

[GVGjr]

Wow that all went to shit pretty quickly!

All out for 212. Terrible from the tail, but hopefully we see some movement with the ball in the back end of the day. Credit to SAF for a disciplined performance.

Even a score of 250 would have been handy. Thankfully the South African batsman have all fallen quickly.
Can we keep them under 140?

[whythelongface]

Even a score of 250 would have been handy. Thankfully the South African batsman have all fallen quickly.
Can we keep them under 140?

I would be surprised if they make 100. Their batting is absolutely shite against quality bowling. They are really only here due to having weaker draw than others and having a high quality bowling attack.

[Stevo]

I would be surprised if they make 100. Their batting is absolutely shite against quality bowling. They are really only here due to having weaker draw than others and having a high quality bowling attack.

I hope you're right. My fear is one or two of them get a couple of 30's. Jensen can be a danger with the bat.

[whythelongface]

I hope you're right. My fear is one or two of them get a couple of 30's. Jensen can be a danger with the bat.

Jansen is a decent tail end batter. Averages low 20s. Hit and miss. Bavuma can hang around and is in career best form of late (not saying much as his career in general is average). Makram is ok but averages 35. The rest are very ordinary and make most of their runs against lower opposition. Our attack will kill them. It will take an innings completely out of the books for the Saffers to win. Probably the worst SA batting line up that I can recall (they have been weak for a number of years now).

But they do have Rabada and he has shown how good he is. Up there with Bumrah and Cummings as the best pace bowlers in world cricket. Jansen is also very good. But they need to bowl us out for < 100 in the 2nd dig to be any chance.

[Flamethrower]

First session will must watch tonight - an early wicket or 2 and the South Africans may struggle to get to 100. But a poor spell from Starc and they may get away and get close to 300.

[GVGjr]

I have a feeling we will need a fighting 50 or more from Ussie to ensure we can get a decent lead. It looks to be a good pitch if batsman can get off to a start.