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[InternalTraining]

Representing short batsmen from all over! Taylor!

[edge]

Taylor shold have played 30+ tests by now, not 4! Got to say I like Compton at 3, hopefully he keeps performing and stays there.

[rickjames]

So overall, not a bad day after losing the toss. Great job from Compton and Taylor to consolidate the innings, showed tremendous amout of grit to dig in.

[Seniorplayer]

don't understand this one at all - surely has to be Broad, Footitt, Finn, Stokes....

No nor me why Woakes  wouldnt be suprised if he will be opening with Hales Soon

[sanredrose]

Just finished watching highlights of day one. Steyn is certainly back with soaring confidence. Cook was looking a little uncomfortable at start and Steyn snapped him. Hales needs more patience, no point in chasing a ball pitched outside off-stump and heading towards towards the keeper. Still doesn't make him an unfit opener. Should be given more time and chances to learn the art of grafting runs in a test match.

Compton and Taylor played a more sensible innings. They have shown that the SA bowling attack can be kept under check. If Stokes bats sensibly and Compton marches toward his century then we are looking at a score of 350 in the first innings. I would call this a very good start by England against SA @ Durban.

[smilley792]

My view on today.


Lots of overs lost to rain. But you can still judge things.


South Africa won't be happy, 3 down for not a lot is what they wanted after winning the toss. But will en disappointed to only have taken one more wicket for the rest for the day.


After losing toss and being inserted. England will still be happy.
Yes they lost 3 quick wickets but
Cooks did bounce a tad.
Hales is new and needs to learn.
Root wasn't expecting that much turn ball 1 to a spinner.

But, England will be more than happy with the way Taylor and Compton subdued the South African attack, and had more overs been bowled, stokes may have cash in quick against a day in the field bowling attack.


Bring on tomorrow. See if stokes/bairstow can weather a fresh steyn. And if so, we should get a decent first innings total.

[Disco]

A lot to do tomorrow but I think England will be the happier of the teams. Okay overs were lost but SA will have wanted more than 4 wickets in the day.

[Manormanic]

Hales...not been in favour previously and am not now.  At least Peanut waited long enough for a half way decent ball to get him out.

[Seniorplayer]

Compton has shown today why he should be opening with cook

[ppccopener]

I can only read the bbc txt as i pointed out earlier but anyone else think swanns comments a bit snotty towards compton?
What..was he not part of the clique first time round?
Or have i only got half the story
Boycott has written today he takes no notice of strike rate in tests..this is not t20

[sanredrose]

Compton has shown today why he should be opening with cook

Compton is doing a good job right now at 1-down. Why would you want him to open ?

[Seniorplayer]

Compton to Open with Cook to protect the nos 3 and 4 having to face the new ball

[sanredrose]

Compton to Open with Cook to protect the nos 3 and 4 having to face the new ball

If Hales plays an aggressive brand of opening innings then the bowlers can lose confidence. Rest of the eng team can pile up on the bowlers and add more runs. I think that is what Hales should do and he is the perfect man for the job. Let him have a crack at SA for the entire series .. lets see then ...

[ppccopener]

I know one thing, I bloody love Nick Compton.

So happy to see him doing well but makes me angry that they cut him off in the fashion that he did!

Plenty of us on here saying exactly that...you cant really argue with results under the old management,flower etc got us to number 1 in the world...but it seems this management style suits the players more.
You might also agree Cook is now out of the flower/strauss influence and is more his own man.
Whether Cook was ready back then to have a hands off coach instead of an in your face one i doubt anyone knows
But certain personalities will flourish more with this management than the last maybe.
Purely on results thou..flower/strauss was the most sucessful in recent memory.

[Seniorplayer]

If Hales plays an aggressive brand of opening innings then the bowlers can lose confidence. Rest of the eng team can pile up on the bowlers and add more runs. I think that is what Hales should do and he is the perfect man for the job. Let him have a crack at SA for the entire series .. lets see then ...

But has Hales got the temperament and technique  to open in tests  awful shot  to get out  and played  far to early in his innings