Sport Winter Cricket Thread

[Foley]

Agree. Batting at 6 seems to fit his style/experience, his technique seems compact and he seems calm. It's a small sample size, but you can see why some in the England setup are excited to get him into the team. Plus he's scored runs in county cricket too.

He is only 21.
A lot of the commentators yesterday were suggesting that he should stay at 5 or 6 for a while but could end up at 3 in a few years time (Ian Bell worked his way up the order)
He looks very composed and Alec Stewart clearly rates him very highly.

 

[Gary Baldi]

Technically, he looks like he knows his game and hasn't developed the leg side quirk that other players come in seem to have. I hope he gets the hundred here, but the runs have dried up a bit for him.

Good knock from Curran that, pushed the game on again from a stall, and pushes us nearer to 450 and over. The rest of the batters have to be pragmatic though and not waste their wickets

 

[Sarge]

Pope got his ton

 

[Foley]

Well done Ollie Pope.
Only 22 years old and a Test century.
Surrey sure have brought through some good young players.

 

[Gary Baldi]

Rabada is also out of the next test as he has accrued 4 naughty boy points

 

[Gary Baldi]

ps. Happy for Pope now he has got the ton. His recent batting has deserved it.

 

[nige01ox]

We've just declared and then un-declared. Not sure that's ever been seen in a test before?! Wood was out and Root called them off, only for replays to show it was a no ball so no wicket!

 

[Marked Ox]

We've just declared and then un-declared. Not sure that's ever been seen in a test before?! Wood was out and Root called them off, only for replays to show it was a no ball so no wicket!

Amusing trolling by Root.

 

[Sarge]

England 499-9 declared .... not a bad first innings total then

 

[Sarge]

very decent 135 not out for young Pope

SA opening pair seem to be getting half decent starts in their first innings currently 40-0 after 9 overs
need to pick up a wicket or 3 sharpish

 

[Foley]

Bess will be pleased to get a wicket.
Wood is bowling pretty sharpish.

 

[Sarge]

hmmm 60-2 from 18 overs, isnt bad, but also not great too... hopefully a couple of early wickets tomorrow to get the day off to a good start

 

[Marked Ox]

hmmm 60-2 from 18 overs, isnt bad, but also not great too... hopefully a couple of early wickets tomorrow to get the day off to a good start

Considering they were 50-0 that is a good return. Means they can attack tomorrow and have more scoreboard pressure.

 

[Sarge]

Bess has already got a fifer ... SA currently 113-5

 

[SteMerritt]

Pope took a couple of fantastic grabs under the lid, good having a keeper there.

 

[Sarge]

currently, rain stopped play

 

[Gary Baldi]

Lovely bowling from Bess this morning, a real threat and bowled smarty. With iffy weather for the rest of the test, feels like we need to take this opportunity and skittle them out, to put them in again. Tall order though

 

[Sarge]

Stokes taken a wicket ...SA 197-6 after 71 overs

 

[Gary Baldi]

Good to see we enforced the follow on - but the batting from SA in the morning was terrible. Far too easy on England. If they get into the middle today, it bodes well for tomorrow

 

[Sarge]

4 early wickets for 1 run....SA following on ....already got 2 wickets .....its looking good for England