Off Topic Cricket 2020

A fantastically entertaining last wicket stand between Wood and Broad.
South Africa completely lost the plot mind.

England in a great position now.

 

England scored 82 from their last 50 balls, SA have managed 11 runs from their first 12 overs...

 

SA batting looking a bit fragile, you wonder whether mentally they're shot. At 43-3 they're really up against it, big stand needed...

 

England really should win the series now.

 

63-4 & bowling a lot better

 

Pretty much the perfect day....SA close 88/6....

 

Looks done and dusted for the series with 3 days play left. They won't enforce the follow-on, just bat them out of the game and set an impossible target. If Root had batted first in the 1st Test it could have been a whitewash...

 

We could be on the cusp of the beginning of a very good young England test team.
Must remember though, how poor South Africa have been.

 

England have done much better than I expected, given the usual lack of preparation, and lack of focus on Test cricket by the ECB in recent years. As you say I have no idea what’s going on with South Africa, but a convincing performance away from home is something to treasure.

 

With Broad and Anderson at the end of their careers, it could depend on the fast bowling options. Would struggles to stay fit and now Archer is struggling after being over-bowled by Root, who is a pretty poor captain all round. The batting is looking better, though.

 

The batting is slowly looking better, especially Pope who looks class.
Burns to return too.
If and it's a big if, Wood can stay fit, there's him, Archer and Stokes, along with Curran and Woakes.
What we're really missing is a top class spinner.

 

Also, although I've been critical of Root's captaincy, I think he's improving.
As for Archer, he's undoubtedly supremely talented, but for me, Mark Wood who's just got 5 wickets is our best fast bowler.
He's consistently much quicker than Archer who sometimes seems to not bother putting the extra effort in.
Wood is a 100 per cent trier and I really hope he now stays fit.

 

Wood is not too shabby with the bat either, he's been bragging he's an all-rounder in the dressing room. I like his style, about time we had players that don't give a f*ck about the opponent...

 

Wood has said himself that he's jealous of the seemingly effortless way that Archer bowls fast. Archer should be used in short spells and told to bowl all out. Instead, Root has bowled him into the ground, probably contributing to his injuries.

 

Good morning for England & I’m sure they will bat again, supreme bowling from wood & yet again stokes always seems to break up partnerships

 

Take that!...

 

Mmm.

 

Good counter attacking shots from England setting up a target S Africa won’t get near, although I thought this innings might go into 4th day for about an hour

 

What does that mean?

 

I'm not convinced it was Root's fault that Archer got injured.
He probably did over bowl him a little, but then Archer often seems to need 2 or 3 overs to get up to full speed.
I'd always pick Wood ahead of him in tests.