I agree, Archer bowled 2 consecutive beamers to a night-watchman, and his primary action after the second was to query the no-ball. I saw no apology. Looking at replays, I’d say the second was clearly above waist height when it passed the batsman, he should have been no-balled again. The umpires warned him, but that should only happen if they no-ball him. It wasn’t edifying, a 140kph beamer at a night-watchman for the first one, and no sign of the England team showing any empathy for the guy who could have been seriously injured.
I genuinely don’t think Archer meant it, a missed knuckle ball, but unpleasant to watch how England behaved.
Back to current play, England’s attack again looking toothless without a Dukes ball in swinging conditions, following a team where most of the recognised batsman average under 40 in Test cricket collapsing. I’m pretty sure I’ve seen this before.
Re Archer. Intent is irrelevant; if they were over the line he should have been removed. Umpires’s job though, not Root’s. Not too bright for Archer to follow a failed knuckle ball with another lets be honest.
SA taking their chance (de Koch just smacked Archer for 2 sixes) and England sound toothless and clueless. The wickets are pretty much all falling to catches behind the wicket yet we have had just one or even no slips at times.
Why when almost every wicket has been caught by wicket keeper or slips do we revert to the short stuff? Strange tactics, Plan A is working well so lets try Plan B instead. However, poor tactics do not account for some mediocre fielding with missed run outs.
However take nothing away from South Africa who have played well throughout.
I have being saying since the Ashes that imo your captain is not up to test standards. It must also reflect on the coaching staff. Joe Root appears to be a nice guy, however lacks the killer instinct.
True - Ben Stokes OBE has been captain today as Joe is ill. Though Joe has returned looking like death warmed up: no idea why, if he’s ill stay away. Ben does not come across as a good captain either. I would love to see a captain like Eoin Morgan CBE, but we have what we have I suppose.
Not sure we are focused as a red ball team as we are with the white one.
I think Root has come back on so that he can bat in the top 6, he needs to be on the field for 40 minutes from his return or he’s batting 7.
The problem with Morgs as captain is that his technique was challenged and found wanting at Test level, he averages 30, now that was almost a decade ago, but his FC average of 7nder 34 is pretty poor as well. However, given our current tendency to pick short-form specialist bats in the top/middle order with FC averages of 35 or lower, he’d probably fit in quite well and wouldn’t weaken the batting, and might bring a Brearley effect.
Hard to imagine Eng getting these with variable bounce as described but a least showing some fight. I have a feeling the spinner might be a problem, not just the new ball.
Always ran in hard and may not have been the most talented but surely one of the most dependable. Played with a smile too. Perhaps Essex can have him again next year?
As for the Test I know we had people ill and undercooked but a familiar story. Wrong call at the toss, poor use of early favourable conditions, muddled tactics and batsmen getting themselves in but not making big scores.
We have talented players but we are an inconsistent side. SA played to their strengths and seized the crucial points of the match.
With a squad all available and fit I would be surprised if Bairstow plays a Test again for a long time, but Butler too is beginning to look like an ODI player not a Test one. Foakes would always have been in the squad at least for me…
I think that’s a bit harsh on Buttler - he can and does stick around if the situation warrants it but our 9,10, and 11 are absolutely useless with the bat so once Curran or Woakes has gone he has no option but to fling the bat and probably to team orders given how Broad was stepping away from the stumps and flailing.
As for wicket keeping, he has done nothing wrong that I have seen and I can’t see what else Foakes would have achieved in this match. I do agree about Bairstow - at least until he grows up!
Australia has certainly exposed new Zealand deficiencies in the last test. Apart from India I cannot see any other test teams being able to prevail against such a constricting attack. So well done Australia, hopefully we can offer some resistance and make a contest of it in Sydney.
Actually it will be a contest of bowlers vs bowlers as IMO both teams have a fantastic bowling attack.
Bumrah / Shami / Sharma / Yadav / Bhuvi / Saini ( new - raw pace and stamina ) / Khaleel / Chahar ( not spinner - medium pace but wily )
For the first time - India has a battery of pace bowlers
Previously we had only 1 or 2 - now we have 7 maybe and more are challenging these mentioned bowlers for their spots
so its very intense competition…
If Kohli wants to - he can go for 5 quicks…
The batsmen who manage to survive the other’s bowling attack will dictate who wins or loses…
NZ have a good bowling attack too but for some reason the 1st innings total from Aus was too heavy and then if you dont get to 350 in your first innings - you are asking for trouble…
Don’t think there’s been any excuses. We always field the best team available. Think India tour next summer and I’m hoping both sides are fit and a good fair contest.
there were some ( including in the press ) who mentioned the last time we did well against Aus - SS and DW were made unavailable…and so it was easier for us to do well.
