This is real test cricket!!
August 19, 2012 in Cricket
Hey All,
This at the moment is a great test. A true test between 1 and 2 in the world! Realistically a test that is very much on even ground right now, some might say that the Proteas are in the driving seat, and others may say that England are, but honestly I think this game is still very much open to both teams, and I would not be surprised to see a draw in this game!
While some of the commentators are talking of a definite result, I am weary to make that call, because the Lord’s pitch is flattening out and the bowlers are not getting the movement they were getting on day 1 and 2. Day 3 showed that Stuart Broard was not moving the ball at all and both Finn and Anderson were getting little movement compared to Day 1, where Anderson was swinging it more than Shane Warne in the bedroom…
I feel that today is going to be the make or break day, if South Africa can bat today until about 20 overs before the end of play it may be South Africa’s game to lose. With that said, if England come out firing on all cylinders, then we could be a couple short. My feeling on this one though is that the Proteas will try and make a lead of around 300 – 350, depending on when we get that far, declare and then bring Steyn, Morkel, Philander and Tahir in to wrap them up and take the series 2 – 0…
Either way, I look forward to a good day of cricket and hope to see Amla, de Villiers, Rudolph, Duminy and Philander can make some runs the 400 mark should be reachable.
So let’s sit back, relax and enjoy a day of eventful cricket.
Chat Soon,
Major
Hanjo said on August 19, 2012
What would the strategy be? Get a 400 run lead and declare? Giving us a day to get 10 wickets – they may go for a slightly. More conservative route, knowing a draw will see them take the series, let’s hope not. Amla looks good at the moment.
TruVanPunt said on August 20, 2012
Yesterday was one of the finest days of cricket I ever watched on tele.
It was another day of hope and despair.
The Proteas were cruising along and then Finn swayed in.
At that stage it was easily the best bowling performance of the test.
He got Amla with the arguably the best ball of the series and then nicked out AB and Rudolph in similar fashion.
Then came Philander with his short burst and did a Finn.
Anything you can do I can do better it seems to be.
The Proteas are well placed and unless England produces a miracle, which in context of this series is not all that unthinkable, they will bow out or at least rescue the test.
Today will also determine Imran Tahir’s future.
I will be chewing my nails.
Labach Tanai said on August 19, 2012
You were very close to spot-on and I think Philander has really just turned this test heavily in our favor: Having them at 6/2 chasing 346! To think the English press wondered what the big fuss was about Philander – guess they will feel different now?