First one-day international, Johannesburg 30th January.

[Occasional Fan]

SA 175-9 from their 50 overs, which surely we did not expect to see completed when they were 49-5 in the nineteenth.

[Kirsty Harris]

OF, I was not all that surprised, to be honest - it is one of England's weak areas - we don't go for the throat in ODI's. After all, Tres (who bowled nicely, but nothing special) bowled 8 overs!! Should have bought back one of Gough or Hoggard as soon as the 7th wicket went down, and kept Gilo on at the other end.

Still, it was a good bowling performance over all - it was nice to see Giles bowling the last over - you don't see thatvery often in ODI's!!!

I like the look of the team selected today - if only Flintoff was able to play it would look really good.

[Occasional Fan]

Trescothick and Jones early casualties, and Cricinfo reporting rain in the offing. Certainly England are off to a racing start, moving on well ahead of the required run rate, but will there be enough overs played to constitute a match? Answering my own question which I lazily posted above, a minimum of 20 overs must be played and then Duckworth-Lewis can be applied.

[Seamer]

England need to keep their wickets in hand if it comes to Duckworth/Lewis. Can be very punishing otherwise

[Occasional Fan]

Yes. D/L is a good think in my opinion, but it is about as opaque as it possibly could be. The South Africans know that pretty well, as they showed at a world cup competition a couple of years ago.

[Kirsty Harris]

I really, really, really don't think Jones should be opening the innings for England. Very strange !!

Oh dear, Strauss is out!! Nice warm welcome for Kev as he comes out to bat!!

It looks like Pakistan are about to beat Austrailia - it's been a cracking game (thank the lord for Sky Sports Extra!!).

[Occasional Fan]

Rain with England 103-3 in the 26th over. Presumably if that is it, England have done enough to win on the Duckworth-Lewis method? Can't find guidance on that on any of the usual sites just at the moment.

[Kirsty Harris]

Yes, England would be comfortable winners under Duckworth-Lewis. I don't think they'll be out again today. Good innings by Vaughan - he looked a cut above all the other batsmen today; and he showed he has pretty good football skills also!!

[John]

I take occasional fan well argued point about keeping Vaughans capitain. And I agree with it.
But others might not see that the one dayers should be put on the back burner. Many people see the one day games as just as important.
Also not only is Vaughan one day form poor his Test match batting has suffered since he became capitain. It might help him to be out of the one dayers. They could run experiment in this series leave him out see how they get on.
Also this point about about winning the Ashes in two years. Unfortunately thats along way a way. Yes if this England side is intact. There is a long road The Ashes India and Pakistan. You will need to find a couples player along the way if the team is going to stay at its current strength.
As for SA they will need 4/5 new players over the next couple of years to challenge the top two.