South Africa in England (and Wales), 2017

[Kevin S]

He sounds like a bustling midfielder for Tottenham.

That was the first dismissal for obstructing the field in a T20 international.

[longeared]

I have never heard of Liam Livingstone. I'm officially out of touch wiv da (T20) kidz

Saw him hit an absolutely enormous six off Adil Rashid at Headingley in the Championship last season. He's good.

England making harder work of winning this match than they should.

[SouthdownRebel]

Looks like it's slipping away now to be honest

[Kevin S]

Cardiff gets a decider.

[ursus arctos]

I'm not sure that I will have recovered from Bumble's Sweet Caroline sing-song by then.

Had he gotten into the cider?

[Ray de Galles]

There's a collector's item!

Not that rare :

[Kevin S]

Highlights of the T20 decider as England took the series win.

5 minutes: https://www.ecb.co.uk/tv/423450
60 minutes (probably UK only): https://www.my5.tv/cricket-on-5/season-2017/episode-8

Didn't catch it live but there seems to be more comment about the fact that Morgan dropped himself, and didn't use Overton at all in three matches, than on the game itself.

[pebblethefish]

The fielding in the stands at both Taunton and Cardiff was appalling. At least we held on to two of ours at the Rose Bowl.

Of the four new ones, I can see Curran and Crane becoming England regulars. I know I'm being far too harsh judging Livingstone on just the two England games, but every time I've seen him at county level he hasn't impressed either, so I'll stick with that. And I've assumed for several years that Malan must not be English, simply because I was sure he'd have had a game by now if he was. He's proved my high opinion of him to be right, but at 29 I can't see them treating him as anything but a stopgap.

[Etienne]

Malan is British born, but South African raised.

[Duncan Gardner]

Two tickets available @ £40 (can sell singly) for the test match at Lord's next Saturday. Our party is in the Mound stand lower. I will be offering a salad bar and Mike ex of Kent League stalwarts will provide expert analysis. PM if interested

[Kevin S]

England apparently using two spinners in the first Test, with Moeen Ali and Liam Dawson both picked. Ballance has also been recalled.

England: Alastair Cook (Essex), Keaton Jennings (Durham), Gary Ballance (Yorkshire), Joe Root (Yorkshire, capt), Jonny Bairstow (Yorkshire, wk), Ben Stokes (Durham), Moeen Ali (Worcestershire), Liam Dawson (Hampshire), Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire), James Anderson (Lancashire). Mark Wood (Durham)


South Africa (probable): Dean Elgar (capt), Heino Kuhn, Hashim Amla, JP Duminy, Temba Bavuma, Theunis de Bruyn, Quinton de Kock (wk), Vernon Philander, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Morne Morkel

[Kevin S]

England are batting first.

[Gangster Octopus]

E10 is doing the OBO for The Graun.

[Kevin S]

Cook gone. Shittit.

[Kevin S]

Blowers starts his shift on TMS. Enjoy it while it lasts.

[Kevin S]

Ah, flipping heck.

[Tubby Isaacs]

That second wicket wasn't out. Fractionally pitched outside leg.

England have 5 left handers in the top 7.

[Satchmo Distel]

Root has been given two lives. Missed catches lose matches.

[Satchmo Distel]

Cricinfo is comparing Rabada's action to one of the bowlers in mine and Tubby's avatars. Initials M.A.H.

[ursus arctos]

Sacrilege

[Etienne]

Good recovery. This Root chap isn't bad. Mind you, given that England captains now always score a ton on their first test, they should go back to 1984 style revolving captaincy.

[Ray de Galles]

Much debate about the colour, knit and depth of V neck of England's jumpers on TMS today.

Personally it's the kit below that seems to have changed to me, more cream than the harsh Persil white of recent seasons.

[Kevin S]

How many overs are we likely to complete today? Do they have to get to 90?

I see 100 as a desirable minimum, given that this is what you get from an ODI.

[ad hoc]

They stop at 6.30 regardless. They won't get anywhere near 90

[longeared]

Much debate about the colour, knit and depth of V neck of England's jumpers on TMS today.

Personally it's the kit below that seems to have changed to me, more cream than the harsh Persil white of recent seasons.

Looks that way, yeah, which means they've got white sweaters and quite a deep hue of cream for the shirts. They look like a school team with such mismatched colours.

The Channel 5 highlights have just shown Pietersen watching. Wonder who he was supporting?