England vs South Africa.1st test. 18th-21th Dec.

[R W S]

The spread on Sporting Index spread for England's first innings total is 525-545.

[Kirsty Harris]

Originally Posted by Ernest

I have been saying the best way to deal with bowlers like Pollock, who are still accurate, is to just play correct, and see them off.

Allan Donald was saying on Sky how well Pollock had bowled compared to the other SA bowlers, but to me, England were happy to just see him off. He didn't really look like taking wickets at any stage. AS you say, with the other SA bowlers, England have been able to score enough runs to just play it safe against Pollock.

The SA bowlers don't seem able to back each other up in the way the English bowlers did.

[Irish Left Armer]

Originally Posted by Kirsty Harris

Allan Donald was saying on Sky how well Pollock had bowled compared to the other SA bowlers, but to me, England were happy to just see him off. He didn't really look like taking wickets at any stage. AS you say, with the other SA bowlers, England have been able to score enough runs to just play it safe against Pollock.

The SA bowlers don't seem able to back each other up in the way the English bowlers did.

Indeed, I didn't think Pollock looked dangerous at all. He and Ntini totally wasted the new ball by bowling way too short. Strauss and Trescothick just stood there and watched them go by. He still bowled a lot of maidens but I thought he bowled too short and he bowled a fair few widish ones. England were more than happy to just see him off and get stuck into the rest.

It just shows how badly South Africa did batting on this pitch, or else it shows how good a bowling attack England have. Probably a combination of both.

[Irish Left Armer]

Strauss out for 126, wicket for Polly.

Nice time to come in for Vaughan, no huge wait this morning.

[Irish Left Armer]

Or alternatively not as Vaughan nicks one.

[Occasional Fan]

And indeed Mr Vaughan didn't wait! Nineteen minutes, ten runs and back to the hutch. He'll be disappointed with that.

[Occasional Fan]

And now Graham Thorpe showing that a lack of practice is not a good thing. Can Flintoff add a few for us? Take it steady, Freddie: we still have loads of time.

[Ernest]

Originally Posted by Occasional Fan 29106

And now Graham Thorpe showing that a lack of practice is not a good thing. Can Flintoff add a few for us? Take it steady, Freddie: we still have loads of time.

Oh dear OF, what was vaughan doing getting out to Hall, did not bowl well yesterday, and Thorpe Chris Smith, yep we need some runs from Freddie.

[Occasional Fan]

Definitely South Africa's morning. I have six people coming in shortly for a pre-Christmas Christmas lunch, so that's my cricket for the day. Better go and make sure this turkey is doing OK. Back tomorrow.

[Zainub]

I just saw the score card, it says Thorpe b Smith ...can't believe that, has anyone seen that dismissal, I'm disalowed for watching cricket on tv for a day, so I can't...SA must be ruing badly they don't have a proper spinner in their eleven, these are good signs for England...who have Ashley 'King of Spain' Giles in their team