South Africa Vs England,3rd Test, Final Days Play.

[Richard Jenkins]

G.O Jones has gone, didn't last first session, kiss of death from Notts exile. Well, Lunch will come soonish, can england limp to lunch?.

[Notts Exile]

Sorry all. Thought he was going to prove me wrong.

This Test has seen an England performance similar to the pathetic one at Newlands five years ago. Not helped by a dodgy decision or two but mainly down to our own inability to play the game properly. Mr Boycott sums it up well in his column in yesterdays Telegraph

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/mai...5/scboyc05.xml

[Maranello]

Fair enough NE, but it's only one Test, not the whole series that England have lost.

Boycott is always in his element when criticising England, slow to offer any praise when its due, quick to join the mob and start baying for blood at the smallest sign of trouble. People like him, who can only offer abuse and brickbats to their own team, are worse than rats being the first to desert a sinking ship... because the English team is not a sinking ship, its still only 1-1!

[Notts Exile]

T'is true we are still level and the end of the world is not nigh. However, we cannot ignore that the performances thus far in South Africa have not been good. They have come back at us well, as expected by some and not others, but they are not a good team either. We should be able to withstand pressure from this team, indeed we will come under far greater pressure in the summer against a team whose attack is proven, respected and also very, very good. Our discipline will be tested. Hopefully we will learn from Cape Town, perhaps not losing in Durban covered over a crack or two. Cape Town has opened them up.

[flanflinger]

not really used to this but the first loss in 14 Test. How we bounce back in the next two will demonstrate what this side is really made of.

Strauss and Jones are part of a losing team for the first time ever. I think that losing often educates more than winning, this team need to see that they have a long way to go to be the best in the World.

[Occasional Fan]

This is not the end of the world. Good effort at the close bby Steven Harmison, who becomes the seventh number eleven to top score in a test innings with a personal best of 42 (including seven fours and the only English six of the match). The Barmy Army will have enjoyed that.

Now, Harmy - about this bowling thing ...

[Ernest]

Originally Posted by flanflinger

not really used to this but the first loss in 14 Test. How we bounce back in the next two will demonstrate what this side is really made of.

Hey ff, The lads will bounce back, a good Test series, and England will benefit from being made to graft, we don't go bad overnight

Originally Posted by Occasional Fan 32157

This is not the end of the world. Good effort at the close bby Steven Harmison, who becomes the seventh number eleven to top score in a test innings with a personal best of 42

The begining of our comeback next Test , Harmison, Hmm would have been better 7/42.

[Occasional Fan]

Originally Posted by Ernest

Harmison, Hmm would have been better 7/42.

Certainly would!

[flanflinger]

Originally Posted by Ernest

The lads will bounce back, a good Test series, and England will benefit from being made to graft, we don't go bad overnight

I am fully confident of this as well. These six days will be crucial. I think it comes at a good time and may give us time to re-group and re-think.

[Occasional Fan]

That's right on all counts, FF. I just hope they aren't wasting any time in Cape Town. They do need to get 5,000 feet above sea level asap - preferably today - to get used to altitude. Pity that they have to sacrifice time in Cape Town for the rather less attractive proposition of Johannesburg, but that's life.