The Cricket Thread 2016

[PaulWinch again]

Another dropped catch, this is looking like one of those games we have after we've won a series. It's not really good enough, we should be able to keep our motivation up to win any match.

[PaulWinch again]

Mini fightback with a couple of wickets, but we're well behind in the game. Good 100 from Cook on debut for SA.

[PaulWinch again]

Overall this has been a great series for England. One slightly worrying thing is that we seem to really struggle when bowling in the first session. I don't know what it is, but we just aren't coming out and hitting the right areas that much.

[Villan For Life]

If we can eke out another couple of wickets before stumps then we will undeservedly be ahead.

This England attack has a knack of picking up wickets when they're not bowling at their best.

[PaulWinch again]

Better than it could have been, but the first two sessions have put South Africa in front.

[tomd2103]

Just watching 'The Verdict' and they are pulling Bairstow up again about his keeping.  Test matches aren't really the place for him to be developing as a keeper and it might be better in the long run to be in the side as a batsman with someone like Billings coming in.

Woakes taking some stick as well.  Even though I am a Bears fan, I'd have to agree.  Not even sure why he was picked for this test because with Broad and Anderson in the side, we needed a bowler who could bowl short, explosive spells.  Woakes just isn't that bowler and I would have thought Footit would have been a better selection.

[PaulWinch again]

Good start this morning, need to knock them over for under 380.

[PaulWinch again]

Started session well and then cocked it up again. We've left a lot of catches out there.

[tomd2103]

Another dropped catch, this is looking like one of those games we have after we've won a series. It's not really good enough, we should be able to keep our motivation up to win any match.

I think that is the difference between the good and the great sides. 

[PaulWinch again]

Really poor from Taylor there, we're in a spot of bother here.

[PaulWinch again]

Bairstow gone. Well it was a great first hour and an absolutely diabolical second hour.

[OzVilla]

Taylor's in this series as a specialist short leg fielder, not sure he's good enough to be our long term no 5.

[olaftab]

There  is a  real problem with 1 to 5 for England if ambition is to become a top top Test cricket team.  Apart from Cook and Root others are not good enough and Hales particularly will not make it as a Test opener. He is not technically good enough. Not sure who can step in?

[PaulWinch again]

I think Taylor deserves more time, he's a good player. He just needs to relax a bit.

[OzVilla]

He's had some chances though and to be honest he's not looked good enough. I'd give him the Sri Lanka series though as we can afford to give him more time as the side is winning.

Taylors danger will be If Buttler gets some form back he could come back in and Bairstow plays as a batsman.