South Africa v England: 2nd Test: 26-30 December

[Alison]

What's been going on in this game? I've been a bit under the weather for various reasons for the last few days, so I haven't been following it properly, but looking at the scorecard etc it seems to be rather odd.

[flanflinger]

Originally Posted by Ernest

Just been explained on talkSPORT ff, it is ok to let the lights aid the natural light, however if the light goes to a point were the game was dependant on artificial light, then that is not allowed.

So how is that different from the normal playing conditions under the standard ICC match regulations

Originally Posted by regulation 3.8

If in the opinon of the umpires, the natural light is deteriorating to an unfit level, they shall authorise the ground authorities to use the available artifical lights....The lights are only to be used to enable a full days play to be completed

Anyway - I was happy to see them come off both bats were looking nervy and Strauss could do with a good nights kip.

Apparantly Giles should be fit to bat and bowl, hurrah!!! That should make life better for England.....

Did anyone else see the fans in the crowd with a Spanish Flag and the Words "Gilo is our King" on it, SKY then cut to Gilo and he was ****ing himself with laughter...

Other notable shouts from the crowd "Can we play you every week" and "5-0 we're gonna win 5-0". Love it - that should annoy the saffers. Come on England!!!

[Ernest]

Originally Posted by regulation 3.8
If in the opinon of the umpires, the natural light is deteriorating to an unfit level, they shall authorise the ground authorities to use the available artifical lights....The lights are only to be used to enable a full days play to be completed

Originally Posted by Ernest
Just been explained on talkSPORT ff, it is ok to let the lights aid the natural light, however if the light goes to a point were the game was dependant on artificial light, then that is not

Originally Posted by flanflinger

So how is that different from the normal playing conditions under the standard ICC match regulations

ff In regulation 3.8, the umpires can autherise the ground authorities to turn on the light, to enable a full days play to be completed.

Under the agreement for the series in South Africa this Winter, the umpires have no such authority.

In the first Test on the 4th day, G Smith took his players off the park, when the light was playable, and under the terms of agreememts reached, he was entitled to do this.

Today regulation 3.8, could not be used, because the batsmen did not want to continue under lights, the match finished early, and the umpires had no say in the matter, or they would have used the lights to finish the days play.

It worked in England favour this time, as you say the 2 players were looking nervy, and Strauss must have been knackered.

Originally Posted by flanflinger

Other notable shouts from the crowd "Can we play you every week" and "5-0 we're gonna win 5-0". Love it - that should annoy the saffers. Come on England!!!

LOL what could the saffers do about it, their fans only occupied one little corner of the ground.
Weather for tomorrow, I have given up looking, we looked at about 6 forcasts last evening, and all were different.

If you want a good guide to the weather in Durban, look at the BBC forcast, reverse it, and you will be close.

[Statto]

Originally Posted by Shivnarine Chaundypaul

A breezy 200 opening partnership

Could you also predict the winner for the 2:30 at Chepstow please

Has anyone said what the pitch is likely to do? I watched some today and it seemed as if the top surface was coming away which gives the spinners a lot of turn and bouce (which it already has) and I would expect by mid afternoon tomorrow the quicks will get a lot more erratic bounce. I couldnt hear the sound to find out what the pitch report had said but I would expect more balls to go through the surface.

Good to see Butcher suvive (just) but he still looks rusty, although it is hard coming in after watching all day. Tomorrow may well be his last chance to keep his place because the batting will be looked at after a 1st innings score of 139. Having said that, most of the top order looks out of form, although they are in more of a safety zone, and dropping 1 player for the failures of 5 would be a little harsh.

On the bowling front I think this pitch could work in our favour with Giles (assuming hes fit to bowl) able to get turn and bounce at one end and our taller, faster bowlers hopefully making more use of the crumbling surface as it deteriorates. So far only Pollock (as usual) and occasionally Kallis has got anything out of the pitch but I would expect Flintoff and Harmison would achieve a little more with their height. Final bonus is the dry pitch may well give Simon Jones a chance for his reverse swing.

[Paoli]

I think the pitch will only get flatter. Also, great to see the extremely gifted Marcus Trescothick back in form and Andrew Strauss--well....9 test matches and 967 runs...quite an achievement...if only he started his career earlier...

England probably need another 250 to have a good chance at winning...

I'd say if they aren't all out, they'll declare with about 15 overs remaining.

[Statto]

From cricinfo (describing the pitch at the end of the day, which was the part I based my post on)

the viper's nest that had Mark Butcher flinching and fencing in the gathering gloom this evening

[flanflinger]

Originally Posted by Paoli69

I think the pitch will only get flatter. .

Some big cracks have started opening up and the ball this morning did a lot more off the seam. Pollock and Ntini looked dangerous as normal. The problem is Boje and Steyn just are not of the same quality, while Kallis is a shadow of the player I have seen in the past.

SA are too reliant on two bowlers, as soon as they are out off the attack, it's a differeant game. England on the other hand have four quality seam bowlers and a much better spinner. They also have a strong No's 5,6,7, whereas the Saffers have a very in-experinced late middle order.

The new ball seems to do a lot. I would say that the game is in England's hands.

Get the new cherry nick out one or two, and expose that middle order before the ball becomes old, and suddenly the Saffers will be very much on the back foot.

[Ernest]

Originally Posted by Ernest

It worked in England favour this time, as you say the 2 players were looking nervy, and Strauss must have been knackered.

It happens a lot, if they cpme off for the light, the morning after they get out, could have cost us 50 runs or more.

[Ernest]

385-4.Flintoff and Thorpe playing well, Flintoff playind with care, except for that mighty 6 of Pollock.

[Ernest]

453-5, Oh dear Flintoff out for 60 to a long hop off Smith.

Pitch deteriating 300 in front should be enough.

Jones and Thorpe goind well.