View Full Version : [Cricket] 5th Test - South Africa v England
Crouching Tiger
19-01-2005, 22:48
Starts Friday at Centurion Park.
Can a patched up England side hold onto their 2-1 advantage in the series ?
Will Flintoff play ? Bowl ? Regain his batting form ?
Will Harmison finally get some wickets ?
morleyian
19-01-2005, 22:50
Yes x 5 :) (gotta think positive :p )
Will the umpires be as poor as they were in the last game ?
Regarding Flintoff there is a suggestion that he might be pulled out of the upcoming one day series so he can have an operation. If he does have the op he will be out for 3 months.
Anyway back to the match I wouldn't care if it rained non stop for the 5 days so long as we win this series and thus become only the second team after Australia (who else) to win a series away to South Africa since they came back onto the international scene.
Crouching Tiger
19-01-2005, 23:15
I have absolutely no interest in the 1 day series anymore since Test cricket stepped up a gear. Is this because England have switched from being a good 1 day side to a good Test side ? I was worried after the first Test that all anybody seemed to be talking about was the Ashes. Then we got our arse kicked in the 3rd Test.
Crouching Tiger
21-01-2005, 09:35
Oh dear, its raining. England don't look very disappointed.
Oh dear, its raining. England don't look very disappointed.
How heavy is the rain at the mo?
Crouching Tiger
21-01-2005, 10:13
I don't know but it is forecast rain for all 5 days. Here (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/england/4191087.stm) is the view this morning.
i hear its forecast until 2pm there time
I don't know but it is forecast rain for all 5 days. Here (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/england/4191087.stm) is the view this morning.
Real shame that :lol:
Real shame that :lol:
I am also really upset about the weather :lol: :clap:
I wonder what will happen if most of the match is lost. Will the SA captain suggest a quick thrash to get a result like Cronje did :suspect:
They are starting early for the rest of the match (8am GMT) so of the weather relents there will be a very good chance of a result. The toss could prove crucial
What a shame, only 4 more days of rained needed now.
On a side issue how lucky were Australia today, chasing 264 to beat the West Indies in the VB series they had reached 43-5 when play was abandoned due to rain.
108-1 at lunch, and the way we've bowled looks as though we could do with some more rain....
Graeme Smith batting down the order, probably at no 5, which should also strenghten their middle order.
Adam Thirnis
22-01-2005, 11:54
Seems a bizarre decision to field - especially when there are doubts about the fitness of a couple of the bowlers. The pitch must have looked very bowler-friendly at the start.
Kallis has just been dismissed - it's 144 for 3.
Crouching Tiger
22-01-2005, 11:56
We look very subdued...even when we take a wicket. :suspect:
We have played poorly this morning, way to many no-balls, dropped catch's and just look tired IMO.
Crouching Tiger
22-01-2005, 12:26
11.5 overs an hour. :gag: Jones is not very quick is he. :(
Crouching Tiger
22-01-2005, 13:40
Smith out 200-5. 200-6 now ;) Pollock out
DanWilde1966
22-01-2005, 14:12
England now has the upper hand. Slow play - but I reckon we'll nail this.
Eight wickets down now but I don't think our batsman will want to bat on this pitch tonight though.
Bad light stopped play at 247-9 :)
First time this series that it actually has been dark when the players went off, the right move with all the lightning about.
-- Jon
Crouching Tiger
22-01-2005, 15:29
SA 247-9 @ close
Excellent recovery from the lads today - from looking down the barrels earlier today to effectively all out for under 250 is superb :D
Eight wickets down now but I don't think our batsman will want to bat on this pitch tonight though.
I don't think the pitch has played too bad, hope we can rack up a decent first innings total then give the bowlers a chance on the last day.
S.Africa really turning the heat up on us - currently 61-3 after being 29-3 earlier on. They are appealing for just about anything even remotely looking out so even the Umpires are feeling the hear! :D
S.Africa were 247 all out BTW with Jones picking the 10th wicket up 2nd ball this morning :D
Massive storm looks primed to hit the ground - even the Sky feed has just failed! :lol:
How dark is that :eek:
The umpires in this series have been inconsistent with regards to the light, I am amazed that the players were even still out there in these conditions.
Gone off again in light that was far superior to before! Vaughan ain't arguing though! :D
Poor shot by Strauss but how much longer are they going to play in these conditions. In the test match we drew earlier in the series when there was 15 overs left and two South African wickets to take the light was much brighter than this when they came off.
Crouching Tiger
23-01-2005, 17:16
Why don't the ICC state that there needs to be a minimum light reading to play (an EV or Lux value). End of story. Then the teams just agree before the series whether flood lights are to be used or not. Simple.
Bob Willis is a complete idiot. When discussing the rights or wrongs of going off due to player safety in the poor light he said that in motoring speed restrictions are usually only imposed following a fatality, and he's never seen anybody injured due to bad light. Gower said, I don't think they should wait for somebody to die before going off.
Willis was also saying that they should have played most of the day because the conditions were bright enough. Gower said, that may be true but it didn't happen at the other venues when England wanted to play on.
At times it was silly today. Pollock was sprinting back to his mark so he could get as many bowls in as possible before the heavens opened.
When there is thunder and more importantly lightning around it is unsafe to play full stop. I saw the discussion afterwards and I couldn't believe what crap Bob Wllis was coming out with, I agree with David Gower when he said is it worth playing on for 20 minutes or so in poor light and having a batsman like Strauss miss a couple of tests.
What I can't understand is why the umpires in this series are not using light meters and then the farce of restarting play for just one over probably would not have happened.
It still amazes me that Willis has a job. He has always been a terrible commentator and is totally out of touch with the reality of the modern game. When the BBC ditched him I was rejoicing but sadly Sky gave him a job.
Anyway back to today and England are moving along steadily and are at 190-4. A draw looks the most likely outcome :clap:
freddie is on the move :) will overtake thorpes score if he carries on :) just hope he doesnt play any silly shots and get himself out (fingers crossed)
oh dear i tempted fait :( 256-5 thorpe gone for 86 good knock :)
its catching freddie now gone :( 257-6
350 isnt such a bad score now.
Crouching Tiger
24-01-2005, 13:23
329 for 6 @ tea. Jones 44 off 50, Giles 25 off 44. 82 run lead.
Series is in the bag now I reckon :D
stephentheshark
24-01-2005, 14:32
359 all out, even a chance of England going for a win
All out for 359 so a lead of 112. Should be an interesting last day as SA will need to score very quickly to have any chance of getting a big enough lead to put England under any pressure. Some good bowling and I can see England winning this
One wicket down and Andrew Hall has come in at 3 so they are definately going for quick runs to try and force a result
Crouching Tiger
24-01-2005, 15:25
You don't think he's a nightwatchman then ?
stallion
24-01-2005, 15:33
Hall has gone now :D
29-2
2/54 now, trail by 58 runs.
So what do we reckon for tomorrow then, Geriant Jones reckons England will go all out for a win and I have to say that this looks the more likely result. I suppose much will depend on how quickly we can get rid of Kallis.
So how do we think South Africa could play tomorrow as they have got to do something to force a result.
England will certainly pile the pressure on tomorrow - no doubt about that. I can't see SA can posting a big score and bowl England out on the last day. They could try getting a lead of 180ish and then hope for a small miracle by bowling England out. Chances are they'll play out for a draw, whereas England will be looking for the win. Either way, it will be an interesting day tomorrow.
Crouching Tiger
24-01-2005, 19:02
Chances are SA will play out for a draw, whereas England will be looking for the win.I think completely the opposite. ;)
I think completely the opposite. ;)
Agreed, South Africa need to win this to draw the series, had this been one of the earlier test match's then I would have agreed with you as they had nothing to loose. South Africa do have a history of going to defensive as to not loose a match but on this occasion they have got to go for a win or loose the series.
Arthur Fowler
25-01-2005, 09:49
Can't see anything other than a draw based on this morning's action so far.
stallion
25-01-2005, 12:50
SA declare on 296/6, a lead of 184 runs.
Arthur Fowler
25-01-2005, 12:52
44 overs to get 185 runs - wonder if we'll have a go?
Crouching Tiger
25-01-2005, 13:05
I wouldn't bother. If we got anywhere near, SA will bowl @ 11 overs an hour and ask to go off for bad light due to player safety. If they nick a few out they'll be sprinting back to their mark to get 50 overs in before 6pm.
Crouching Tiger
25-01-2005, 13:07
How can it be a maximum of 44 overs as stated on the BBC
neil_stretton
25-01-2005, 13:19
crouching_tiger i assume it is a mistake and should be minimum
Key's gone lbw for 9, 2/16 now.
Banger's gone bowled Ntini, 3/20, brown trousers time in the dressing room I feel.
Arthur Fowler
25-01-2005, 14:12
3 down :eek:
We trying to throw this away :oh-hum:
Crouching Tiger
25-01-2005, 14:36
Relax guys this is not in doubt.
25-3 from 21 overs, even England can't lose this game! Can they? :p
Incredible run rate being sustained by Thorpe and Vaughan! :lol:
morleyian
25-01-2005, 15:11
What Athers would do to play in a situation like this one :p
Arthur Fowler
25-01-2005, 15:25
Getting nervous at 4 down!
Match drawn
England win the series :clap:
Arthur Fowler
25-01-2005, 16:07
Hoorah!! :clap:
England man of the series ? Hoggard or Strauss ?
Quick vote.....
The 3 little pigs
25-01-2005, 16:20
I saw a Strauss! Where? There in the square right there!
Player of the series for me... :clap:
Man of the match AB De Villiers - fair enough
Man of the series (picked by Atherton/B Richards/Gower/Donald) : Andrew Strauss
Crouching Tiger
25-01-2005, 17:21
Yeh Strauss for me.
:clap: :clap: :clap:
I have to admit I was a tad nervous when we had lost 3 early wickets but thankfully the captain saw us home.
I think the selection of Andrew Strauss for man of the series ahead of Kallis is just about right.
cheeseypuffs
25-01-2005, 18:13
A well deserved series win :notworthy
SA were just way too conservative for a game they had to win. Kallis is an excellent batsman, but surely he should have been scoring much quicker, especially once he'd got his ton :?: In the previous test, Trescothick took the bowlers apart to give his bowlers a decent total and enough time to get SA out, but Kallis never looked like doing the same.
Before he got to 100, he looked like he was just after three figures and once he got there he just played not to get out :|
Maybe that's was why Smith sent Hall in before him?
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