Fourth Test - Day 1

[Reading Posh]

If Vaughan wins the toss should England bat or take the field?

Headingly pitch notorious for giving up after three days so you wouldn't want to bat last, but overcast conditions today and a greenish pitch could have the ball seaming... decisions, decisions.

 

[CHAPPERS]

Bat first, we alwas seem to struggle batting second, especially in the first innings.

As long as Bicknell doesn't play i'm happy witrh whatever though.

 

[AlbionFan]

Bat first I say, the pitch won't last 5 days and rain is expected for some part of the day. SA will probably be batting tomorrow when the weather is not expected to be fantastic, which leaves us Saturday and Sunday where the weather is expected to be hot and sunny.

 

[elbowpatches]

Bicknell and Ali both playing Giles dropped and Harmison not recovered from back injury.

 

[Marc]

I just hope Kirtley does well, last thing he will need is a flop right now and take no wickets for 100+ runs in 20 overs or something

Anyone see him arrive at the ground the other day signing atutographs? the mans a Legend already

 

[Reading Posh]

Due to being busy in a parallel universe I have completely missed why Pollock isn't playing, not that I'm complaining mind

 

[CHAPPERS]

Due to being busy in a parallel universe I have completely missed why Pollock isn't playing, not that I'm complaining mind

His wife is having a baby back in South Africa, he's flown back to be at the birth.

The teams are...

England: MP Vaughan (capt), ME Trescothick, MA Butcher, N Hussain, ET Smith, AJ Stewart (wkt), A Flintoff, JM Anderson, RJ Kirtley, Kabir Ali, M Bicknell.

South Africa (from): GC Smith (capt), HH Gibbs, JA Rudolph, G Kirsten, JH Kallis, HH Dippenaar, N McKenzie, MV Boucher, AJ Hall, PR Adams, M Ntini, D Pretorius.

I rally don't understand how picking Bicknell is a good idea. He is 34 years old and hardly taking loads of wickets in the championship, the selectors ahve been lazy here and taken the easy option, a surrey bowler.

BTW I edited my last post so that it would not affedt my post count, aren't I a good boy.

 

[Trigger]

Deffo bat first...

I dont mind Bicknell playing coz he's normally a very tight bowler, he can steady the runs while Kirtley gets his 10 wicket haul...

 

[elbowpatches]

South Africa won toss and elected to bat

 

[Trigger]

SA won toss and will bat

 

[The Large One]

Come on Springer, send those stumps flying.

 

[elbowpatches]

Smith out already for 2 Kirtley is carrying on from where he left off

 

[Man of Harveys]

Kirtley strikes! Smith gone!

 

[Trigger]

Kirtleyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy

 

[Marc]

jesus christ Kirtley do you never rest?

 

[Trigger]

And 1 for Bicknell... 2/2

 

[elbowpatches]

Another wicket? Bloody hell, this is great stuff. Gibbs out for 0, 2 for 2

 

[CHAPPERS]

Marvellous!!

 

[The Large One]

KIRTLEY IS ON FIRE

Well obviously, not literally.

 

[Bozza]

Good to read all you 'bat first' pundits were spot on!