The Cricket Thread 2016

[ozzjim]

Given not out. Don't waste the chance Bairstow!

[Villan For Life]

Good to get to tea without losing another wicket.

[Proposition Joe]

Unfortunately, any psychological damage done to their bowlers during the first innings has been undone, not to mention their batting confidence and form being restored after the failures in the first test.  Hard to call the series from here.

[PaulWinch again]

Looks like we've got away with it, but I hope the batsmen look at how they approached today. It looked far too complacent.

[Villan For Life]

Amla has resigned and will be replaced by De Villiers for the rest of the series.

[paul_e]

didn't watch any of today but how different were the conditions?  It ended early for bad light/rain and is a day 5 pitch; I'm not excusing the batsmen but is there an element of the bowlers eventually getting something from the pitch involved in this?

I have far bigger concerns about the fielding in the last 3 days than I do in a slightly below par score on a 5th day pitch, the dropped catches got us into the position where we could lose, not a few loose shots today.

[PaulWinch again]

It was cloudy and there was assistance for the bowlers, but the batting was really poor.

[adrenachrome]

In addition to the cloud, the wind had "flipped" from the prevailing South Easterly to a North Westerly, referred to as a "Pringle" by the local crickerati.

Vaughan and his Saffer co-commentator had an extended discussion on TSM about why this should produce more favourable bowling conditions, but both were convinced that it did. Vaughan said a similar phenomenon occurs at Scarborough.   

[Villan For Life]

I have far bigger concerns about the fielding in the last 3 days than I do in a slightly below par score on a 5th day pitch, the dropped catches got us into the position where we could lose, not a few loose shots today.

The fielding was disappointing but may have been a feature unique to this ground. Finn said that seeing the ball in the field was difficult and Vaughan said the same on TMS today.

[tomd2103]

Unfortunately, any psychological damage done to their bowlers during the first innings has been undone, not to mention their batting confidence and form being restored after the failures in the first test.  Hard to call the series from here.

Yeah think SA will be going into the next test with lifted spirits, particularly if Steyn and Philander are back.  Might not have made any difference, but I just can't help thinking Root dropping De Villiers on day 2 was the turning point in the match.

[Villan For Life]

Unfortunately, any psychological damage done to their bowlers during the first innings has been undone, not to mention their batting confidence and form being restored after the failures in the first test.  Hard to call the series from here.

Yeah think SA will be going into the next test with lifted spirits, particularly if Steyn and Philander are back.  Might not have made any difference, but I just can't help thinking Root dropping De Villiers on day 2 was the turning point in the match.

Philander is definitely out & Steyn is rated 50/50 which is either a smokescreen to hinder our preparation or he is struggling with fitness.

Hopefully Jimmy will be better in the next test, I thought he looked out of sorts in the last test and was probably short of fitness.

[PaulWinch again]

Jimmy was definitely short of bowling in this Test, so hopefully all that work will have helped him.

[JasonStevens]

Lot of anger over here with the Windies not offering to make a spectacle of today and accepting a declaration of 0-0 to set up an Aussie chase.

Don't blush baby Smith!

[DaveD]

In addition to the cloud, the wind had "flipped" from the prevailing South Easterly to a North Westerly, referred to as a "Pringle" by the local crickerati.

Vaughan and his Saffer co-commentator had an extended discussion on TSM about why this should produce more favourable bowling conditions, but both were convinced that it did. Vaughan said a similar phenomenon occurs at Scarborough.

See also the Fremantle Doctor in Perth

[dcdavecollett]

Good to see that dropping catches no longer justifies players being left out of the side -at least now that Bell's gone.

How times change, eh?