Because its dull as shit. No ranking points & the run rate is less than 3 per over.
Edit. Just seen NZ are 269 off 103 overs. Just over 2.5 runs per over. I'd rather watch paint dry.
It’s not all about bish bash bosh at Test level , that’s how we lose our matches plenty of times playing overly aggressive . they have brought in a new game called the hundred for those who need quick runs with zero patience or the t10 will get you some speedy runs
If Stokes is ongoing issue means he is unable to bowl then we will have issues in terms of the balance of the side for South Africa because I can't see us going in with just four bowlers - especially with Archer's seeming reluctance to bowl all out for any period of time.
Foakes should be in the side but England won't bat him at 6 (or Sam Curran for example). In any event we have to lose a batsman and Sibley is the obvious one to go which will mean, presumably, Denly opening. But then we are back to the issue of who bats at 3? As Root definitely won't move from 4 it would have to Stokes or Pope.
Or they give Crawley a chance to open in order to keep Denly at 3 in which case they have to either rest Stokes or, rather unfairly, drop Pope (again!). And back to the Foakes issue and whether they bat him at 6 in which case they have to leave out Buttler too and have Curran batting at 7.
If Stokes is ongoing issue means he is unable to bowl then we will have issues in terms of the balance of the side for South Africa because I can't see us going in with just four bowlers - especially with Archer's seeming reluctance to bowl all out for any period of time.
Foakes should be in the side but England won't bat him at 6 (or Sam Curran for example). In any event we have to lose a batsman and Sibley is the obvious one to go which will mean, presumably, Denly opening. But then we are back to the issue of who bats at 3? As Root definitely won't move from 4 it would have to Stokes or Pope.
Or they give Crawley a chance to open in order to keep Denly at 3 in which case they have to either rest Stokes or, rather unfairly, drop Pope (again!). And back to the Foakes issue and whether they bat him at 6 in which case they have to leave out Buttler too and have Curran batting at 7.
Have I got that wrong?
I thought Crawley WAS an opener. Play him with Burns, Denly at 3, Root 4, Stokes 5....
If Stokes is ongoing issue means he is unable to bowl then we will have issues in terms of the balance of the side for South Africa because I can't see us going in with just four bowlers - especially with Archer's seeming reluctance to bowl all out for any period of time.
Foakes should be in the side but England won't bat him at 6 (or Sam Curran for example). In any event we have to lose a batsman and Sibley is the obvious one to go which will mean, presumably, Denly opening. But then we are back to the issue of who bats at 3? As Root definitely won't move from 4 it would have to Stokes or Pope.
Or they give Crawley a chance to open in order to keep Denly at 3 in which case they have to either rest Stokes or, rather unfairly, drop Pope (again!). And back to the Foakes issue and whether they bat him at 6 in which case they have to leave out Buttler too and have Curran batting at 7.
Have I got that wrong?
I thought Crawley WAS an opener. Play him with Burns, Denly at 3, Root 4, Stokes 5....
Which is what I suggested in my penultimate para but if we do that and Stokes can't bowl are we:
(1) Playing 4 bowlers only with Buttler or Pope at 6 and Foakes keeping and batting at 7?
or
(2) Playing 5 bowlers with Buttler at 6 and keeping but no Foakes or Pope?
or
(3) Playing 5 bowlers with Foakes batting at 6 and keeping but no Buttler or Pope?
Ten sessions in to the test and it looks like Joe Root's decision making is going in the right direction. We're ahead on runs scored and wickets taken, the decision not to play the spinner appears to have been vindicated so far, bowling first and last seems to be the way to win on this pitch and he's made a huge score.
I'm sure it'll be a draw, but I'd like to see England put their foot on the accelerator here and at least have a go at getting a result
Agreed. Bit of rain forecast for tomorrow so we need to have them 3/4 down tonight. Will be tough on this wicket but we need to start going at 5+ an over and get to 500 by tea.
Raval's decision not to review his LBW is as bizarre as it gets. Batsmen are generally selfish by nature so, any chance of a nick and you would have thought he'd have sent it upstairs in a nanosecond - he didn't nick it more middled it, had a passing query with his partner, Latham and proceeded to walk straight off.
Great to see Root back in form - and ditching the awful movement so prevalent in the First Test. We will do well to win this and might still rue the decision to not go in with a front line spinner but, clearly, that thought process has been heavily influenced by the Stokes situation.
Looking further ahead... Newlands is sold out in Cape Town (was sold out first week in November). South African Cricket Board is in total disarray following an internal power struggle - plus a possible players strike, Neil Manthorps blog is a good read (and his tweets are good too)... https://manners-on-cricket.com/
Comments
they have brought in a new game called the hundred for those who need quick runs with zero patience
or the t10 will get you some speedy runs
England 39 for 2
Burns 24 no
Foakes should be in the side but England won't bat him at 6 (or Sam Curran for example). In any event we have to lose a batsman and Sibley is the obvious one to go which will mean, presumably, Denly opening. But then we are back to the issue of who bats at 3? As Root definitely won't move from 4 it would have to Stokes or Pope.
Or they give Crawley a chance to open in order to keep Denly at 3 in which case they have to either rest Stokes or, rather unfairly, drop Pope (again!). And back to the Foakes issue and whether they bat him at 6 in which case they have to leave out Buttler too and have Curran batting at 7.
Have I got that wrong?
(1) Playing 4 bowlers only with Buttler or Pope at 6 and Foakes keeping and batting at 7?
or
(2) Playing 5 bowlers with Buttler at 6 and keeping but no Foakes or Pope?
or
(3) Playing 5 bowlers with Foakes batting at 6 and keeping but no Buttler or Pope?
Root 178 n/o
Pope 46 n/o
Long may it continue.
414-5, lead by 39
Pope 56 n/o
Root 226 and Pope 75
NZ go from 28-2 to 96-2 and trail by 5
Great to see Root back in form - and ditching the awful movement so prevalent in the First Test. We will do well to win this and might still rue the decision to not go in with a front line spinner but, clearly, that thought process has been heavily influenced by the Stokes situation.
Newlands is sold out in Cape Town (was sold out first week in November).
South African Cricket Board is in total disarray following an internal power struggle - plus a possible players strike, Neil Manthorps blog is a good read (and his tweets are good too)...
https://manners-on-cricket.com/