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[Kulli]

Surely Finn in for the next test. Surely.

Finn has been awesome in the 50 over games, but didn't do himself any favours in the test with the WIndies, he was decidedly average there.

[stevat]

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.

On the toss, I read somewhere that Smith has won something like 70% of games from losing the toss, and only about 27% from winning it.  Morale of the story is, try and lose the toss.

[stevat]

I wish that Bopara did himself justice in this Test. I don't know why he doesn't succeed. Is it mental strength, ability (doubtful) or just bad luck? It seems its always when he puts on an England test shirt!

Well he's managed to get himself out playing on from one outside off in a game situation where all he needs to do is survive.

Like you, I'm a fan of his, think he's a very talented lad, just get the impression that he feels he has to prove himself so tries to force things.  Hopefully they'll stand by him for the series though, so he'll get a crack at this again.

[slipstream86]

Well he's managed to get himself out playing on from one outside off in a game situation where all he needs to do is survive.

Like you, I'm a fan of his, think he's a very talented lad, just get the impression that he feels he has to prove himself so tries to force things.  Hopefully they'll stand by him for the series though, so he'll get a crack at this again.

Hope so

If they're planning to stick with him they should tell him. Ravi's gonna be thinking that he'll be dropped unless he performs in this one match. I'ts a bit too much pressure on him, knowing that his place depends entirely on one innings.

[Manormanic]

he needs to be given until the end of the India series but to be told that he either makes it by then or, permanently, goodbye.  Joe Root should come in for the New Zealand series if he fails (indeed, should play there as part of a rotation policy anyways)

[Vantage_Cricket]

Lets see if bresnan can keep his place with the bat...

[PM7]

Writings on the wall now bar the fat boy singing!

[petehosk]

They deserve this one! Bell has been patient but that's all judging by the cricinfo commentory!
If we'd have batted out a draw, it would have been an injustice so regroup and try harder in the next test I say!

[tim2000s]

England certainly haven't looked like the number 1 test team in the world in this game... We've been walked over as easily as we have walked over other sides.

For me what is interesting is that we just don't seem to be able to play on pitches that are remotely sub-continental in style - slow and dry. This is very similar to those in the UAE where we were so poor against Pakistan....

[alexhilly1492]

England loose by an innings and 12 runs, didnt look like the best side in the world, 2 tests left, time for the selectors to go for steve finn?

[Kieron_BT]

Why is always Bresnan and never Broad that looks at getting dropped?

Bresnan is a better bat, bowls quicker, and probably (without looked) as a better bowling avaerage

[cricketbadger]

Why is always Bresnan and never Broad that looks at getting dropped?

Bresnan is a better bat, bowls quicker, and probably (without looked) as a better bowling avaerage

I agree, Broad is over-rated in my opinion
And i cant see Bopara performing well in Tests, never viewed him as anything more than a decent ODI batter who can bowl a bit

[ppccopener]

i'd have bresnan in over broad too

Finn in at headingly i hope

but SA have outplayed England simple as that(im an england fan)
hope someone looks at the way we have given wickets away in this match.

do that against the best sides and you get punished-and we did

[Kieron_BT]

Broad has lost his pace, doesn't really swing it, and is not scoring any runs like he used to do down the order, all in all doesn't really warrant his place at the moment

Broad and Bresnan out

Finn and Nick Compton (presuming he would play for England) in!

[Alvaro]

Well played Jacques Kallis. I duly go to wash the egg off my face.

England are a very good team. They are excellent when they face teams willing to go at them, like Australia, or show a lack of application, like India and WI, with the bat.

Where they seem to be falling down is against teams with batsmen who are happy to play the waiting game, like Amla, Smith, Kallis, Azhar Ali, Shafiq, etc. and it becomes a real battle of attrition. Then when they bat it seems that this effects them as their precious game plan has been metaphorically widdled on.

This isn't to say that things can't be turned around at Headingley.

p.s. Broad bowled brilliantly in the UAE, talk of dropping him after one bad Test is reactionary at best.