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[SOULMAN1012]

Great knock from Sibley and a stunning knock from Stokes, takes the game away from SA in 60 mins

[edge]

Poor Jack Leach on the balcony looks like he's lost several stone! Was surprised they kept him out there given he'd more or less been stuck in bed for a month, but even more so given how gaunt he still looks. Send him home and tell him to recover before SL the poor bloke.

[alexhilly1492]

Well batted Ben Stokes!!!

great knock taken this away from SA in an hour now pope buttler and co can carry on!

[Mister Le Chiffre]

Root gets a lot of abuse of his poor captaincy, but surely du Plessis is worse? Some of his bowling tactics have been awful in this match.

[ProCricketer1982]

Finally this feared middle order is actually allowed to do what it's supposed to.. This is fun Now, all they need to do is remember how they've approached this innings and repeat

[WalkingWicket37]

How many does Joe Root want before declaring?

With Stokes' assault on the bowers the game has moved on at a rate of knots today.
The lead is almost 400 and there's still a day and 2 full sessions to go, so time shouldn't be an issue

[ppccopener]

we should be declaring right now, get them in while we have the upper hand

this is the sort of cricket I like, proper test match when the middle order can put bat to ball and the top half gets in and stays in

[shadowlight]

Congratulations Sibley on a wonderful knock.

[Manormanic]

I think they'll hope for ten overs of carnage this afternoon then knock it on the head - anything over 450 means the Yarpies will have to go consistently at 100 runs per session to win, which is enough that they almost certainly won't whilst just leaving open enough of a possibility that they won't stonewall from ball one.

[ProCricketer1982]

How many does Joe Root want before declaring?

With Stokes' assault on the bowers the game has moved on at a rate of knots today.
The lead is almost 400 and there's still a day and 2 full sessions to go, so time shouldn't be an issue

I think there is merit in batting on until tea or post tea and just grind SA in the dirt.... physically and mentally break them for the next games as much as this one.

Well done the entire top 5.. lovely

[ProCricketer1982]

Root gets a lot of abuse of his poor captaincy, but surely du Plessis is worse? Some of his bowling tactics have been awful in this match.

He is just as bad as Root but sadly, like us.. they have no alternatives

[alexhilly1492]

He is just as bad as Root but sadly, like us.. they have no alternatives

Id say we do have an alternative..

Theres a member of our side who has been successful in his main job (Batsman) and lead his county to the CC title whilst scoring over 1000 runs for the season

more experience than Root had before he took over...

[ProCricketer1982]

Id say we do have an alternative..

Theres a member of our side who has been successful in his main job (Batsman) and lead his county to the CC title whilst scoring over 1000 runs for the season

more experience than Root had before he took over...

Harsh to ask a new lad in the England set up who also bats top 3 to do it before they've established themselves. Root whilst never a top 3 batter had the stats behind batting wise to lead and had a 100% secure test spot. However, another 12 months or so, if Burns is still performing well enough then sure.. why not.. We need Root the batsmen back.

[alexhilly1492]

Harsh to ask a new lad in the England set up who also bats top 3 to do it before they've established themselves. Root whilst never a top 3 batter had the stats behind batting wise to lead and had a 100% secure test spot. However, another 12 months or so, if Burns is still performing well enough then sure.. why not.. We need Root the batsmen back.

Totally agree it is harsh but at least eh has the experience of doing both roles even if it is down a level

[Jimbo]

Sibley melting a huge 6 after a day of commentary questioning whether he can score quicker and play his shots might be my highlight of this series so far.