SA vs England 4th Test - Day 1

[JJ McClure]

Vaughan wins toss and decides to bat first. James Anderson in for Simon Jones.


South Africa: Graeme Smith (capt), Nicky Boje, Mark Boucher (wkt), AB de Villiers, Boeta Dippenaar, Herschelle Gibbs, Jacques Kallis, Makhaya Ntini, Shaun Pollock, Jacques Rudolph, Dale Steyn.

England: Marcus Trescothick, Andrew Strauss, Robert Key, Michael Vaughan (capt), Graham Thorpe, Andrew Flintoff, Geraint Jones (wkt), Ashley Giles, Matthew Hoggard, Steve Harmison, James Anderson.

Umpires: SA Bucknor and Aleem Dar; Match referee: CH Lloyd

 

[Kinky Gerbil]

I dont rate Anderson that highly - he seems to have gone down hill a bit in the cricket i have seen

 

[Wardy]

Vaughan wins toss and decides to bat first.

We WON a toss

 

[JJ McClure]

Re: Re: SA vs England 4th Test - Day 1

We WON a toss

must have been a two headed coin

 

[nwgull]

Jones injured then? Can't see any other reason for putting in Anderson.

 

[Scarface]

Dont think he is injured just not been bowling very well. They seem to think that Andersons greater ability to swing the ball will help in this test.

And we have finally got off the mark in the 4th over!

 

[Trufflehound]

45-1

 

[JJ McClure]

45-1 Tresco gone

 

[Kinky Gerbil]

Not a great start

 

[geoffreyp]

67-1

 

[Stumpy Tim]

Key just got hit on the head. Actually, I'm coming round to Rob Key. He's looking pretty unfazed (watch him get out in the next over)

I'm glad Anderson is playing. Jones has had one good spell in the first 3 games - not good enough. The ball is swinging alot so far in this game, so it should suit Anderson. And also, we can't risk both Flintoff & Jones breaking down.

 

[JJ McClure]

77-1 at Lunch.

 

[CHAPPERS]

f*** me! We won the toss!

Time for Tresco to take a long hard look at himself AGAIN.

 

[JJ McClure]

107-1

Strauss 59
Pie Man 22

 

[Marc]

Strauss is fast becoming an England Legend, another 5 years of this quality and he'll be up for an OBE or something!

 

[Pavilionaire]

I can see the logic in selecting Anderson. Jones hasn't bowled that well, Anderson has been patient and, particularly for this match, we need a bowler who can throw down a lot of overs so we can nurse Flintoff.

Jones (88 overs) just hasn't bowled anywhere near the amount of overs in this series that Hoggard, Harmison and Flintoff have (c.120 - 130 each).

Hopefully, Harmison will step up to the plate...

115-1.

 

[CHAPPERS]

As much as I hate Key I'd like him to get into some form. He's the kind of batsman that scores without the other team really realising and they don't tend to go after him because he doesn't seem to have a weakness (apart from being a fatty).

The only thing that worries me about Anderson is that he is very expensive and with the likes of Kallis and Gibbs in the SA middle order he could prove costly.

 

[Scarface]

Looks like Stauss is in a bit of a hurry, 15 4s in his 75 so far!

edit: make that 16!

 

[larus]

Strauss ton (again).

Come on lads.

 

[Marc]

Straus Ton in 155balls 17fours 1six