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[A-Swing-And-A-Miss]

I suspect the same would happen in any club, county etc - if you give team A the first pick of a pool of players well known to them, you'd expect that the resulting side would be stronger than the best of whatever is left, no?

Especially so in one day cricket, where the England "A" side has lots of international experience and takes the big hitters, whilst the B side is inexperienced, filled with young lads unfamiliar with the format and has its hitters taken away to the A side.  No, the result was not ina ny way surprising or representative.  Look instead at their creditable performances against other nations A sides and recent touring teams!

Unfamiliar with the format? I'm pretty certain every Cricketer in the world understands 50 over cricket.. The Lions aren't just a random group of young players put together, they are some of the best players in England. The Lions had the likes of James Taylor, Joe Root, Alex Hales and Jonny Bairstow who are expected to be key parts of the England team in a few years, yet against international standard bowling they crumbled.

It shows that there is a massive gap between the Lions and the first team which is not good as it is competition which creates great teams.

[Number4]

Any guesses when SA will declare?

[Number4]

I think Broad is trying to see how many fours Kallis can hit him through covers for

[Tail Ender]

As a neutral this is brilliant to watch (and that would apply if the tables were turned).

[Vic Nicholas]

The questions begs to be asked...what impact does this have on the English bowlers for the rest of this series?

Will they write it off as just a dead wicket?

Or will they carry some psychological scarring at the mauling they have copped from an admittedly top class Saffer batting line up?

Time will tell I suppose...but, it is hard to single any one bowler out for dropping, because they have all been as equally ineffectual as each other..

[A-Swing-And-A-Miss]

The South Africans are bowling far better than we did and are reaping their rewards. 36-2.

[FvanN]

 

To say I'm a happy boy is an understatement

 

[pacman75cricket]

Bit conerning how SA got movemenmt + presusure compared to the English bowlers.

[Manormanic]

Unfamiliar with the format? I'm pretty certain every Cricketer in the world understands 50 over cricket.. The Lions aren't just a random group of young players put together, they are some of the best players in England. The Lions had the likes of James Taylor, Joe Root, Alex Hales and Jonny Bairstow who are expected to be key parts of the England team in a few years, yet against international standard bowling they crumbled.

It shows that there is a massive gap between the Lions and the first team which is not good as it is competition which creates great teams.

Understands, yes.  But of the four you mention none have played the game at List A level over 50 overs, and the cadences are different to the 40 over version, especially against a superior first XI side - bear in mind that two of those players already have senior international experience and have done okay for themselves, so they can't be to far short of the standard and I'm sure that if it was the England side and the Lions side mix-and-match you'd have seen dfferent performances.

[PM7]

What an incredible days cricket. Amla and Kallis had to be stopped only by a declaration!
I cant believe that the mighty Hashim Amla managed to plunder 300 runs and he is actually fasting for Ramadan.
Is there any truth in this as surely this beggars belief ??

[langer17]

What an incredible days cricket. Amla and Kallis had to be stopped only by a declaration!
I cant believe that the mighty Hashim Amla managed to plunder 300 runs and he is actually fasting for Ramadan.
Is there any truth in this as surely this beggars belief ??

They said on the cricinfo commentary that he does not fast on match days.

[langer17]

"10.55am Play will start in a couple of minutes...could be a morning of milestones. Those of you who missed the information yesterday, Hashim Amla is not fasting on match-days (same goes for Imran Tahir)."

[Vic Nicholas]

Good old Georgy Dobell who was predicting a ten zip Ashes triumph next year seems to have become far more circumspect in his latest column.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/england-v-south-africa-2012/content/current/story/573523.html

He is now talking about "inconvenient truths" etc.

If the pitch was juiced up to suit Anderson, Bresnan and co, there would have been far less runs scored. But of course the groundsman didn't do that under instruction from ECCB, because unlike the fans, teh ECCB know that anything Anderson, Broad, Bresnan and co can do, Steyn, Philander and Morkel can do better.

If England go down this test as they are likely to do, you can bet your last pound that in desperation, the ECCB will order two juiced up seaming decks in the next two tests to try and turn the tables.

Personally, I think that is their best chance, even allowing for the retaliatory threat offered by Steyn and co.

Anyways, let's see if Bopara can make a hero of himself by scoring and epic all day century.

[Buzz]

George Dobell certainly has the faith to put his nuts on the line.

I think SA should wrap this game up by tea.
I really hope that Bell and Bopara can do well today, but the reality is that it will not be enough.

awesome toss to lose I think. brilliant batting. the way amla and kallis batted against swann was a masterclass in playing spin with no risk.

[Joe]

Surely Finn in for the next test. Surely.