Newlands Test delicately poised

Newlands Test delicately poised

4 Jan 2010

England set up an enthralling Test match by finishing day two just 50 runs from parity with the Proteas at Newlands.

Much will depend on the Proteas’ bowlers’ ability to knock over the England tail early on day three, and then for their batters to show the application the majority of them have lacked in setting a competitive target.

The batsman will be aided by a wicket that is still playing relatively true, barring the odd delivery that has kept slightly low. That said, there was plenty in it for the heat slingers in the morning session, where, incredibly, seven wickets fell, including that of centurion Jacques Kallis.

England, led by James Anderson (who took three wickets in that period for just one run), quickly cleaned up the Proteas’ lower order, but soon found themselves reeling having lost the wickets of Andrew Strauss, Jonathan Trott and Kevin Pietersen by lunch, their score just 64.

Alistair Cook and Paul Collingwood consolidated well after the dismissal of the triumvirate, but the latter fell just after the interval and forced Cook and Ian Bell to play circumspectly for a period. Cook then scooped a back-of-a-length delivery to short mid-wicket and Bell exited just as he was beginning to look the class act he did at Kingsmead.

Matthew Prior refused to let the fall of those wickets stifle his naturally aggressive approach, and he was ably assisted by Stuart Broad, who showed signs of why he is regarded within the England camp as the natural successor to Andrew Flintoff. But he was cleaned up by a superb Dale Steyn delivery, prompting the introduction of Graeme Swann.

Prior continued to play positively, even after the Proteas opted for the new ball, and he’ll be the prize scalp on day three.

South Africa 291/6 (1st innings)
Jacques Kallis 108, Mark Boucher 51, Graeme Smith 30, James Anderson 5-63.
England 236/7 (1st innings)
Alistair Cook 65, Matthew Prior 52*, Ian Bell 48, Morne Morkel 3-57, Dale Steyn 3-64

Click here for full scorecard.


271 Comments

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  • 251.Jinx: Reply to this comment
    4 Jan 2010, 23:48 pm

    The Proteas often struggle to wrap up the tail. It is crucial that they demolish the Pom tail otherwise we might let things slide. Swann is no mug with the bat and Prior neither. Must get them out in the first hour. I hope Prince and JP do something substantial in the SA 2nd innings.

  • 252.williforde: Reply to this comment
    4 Jan 2010, 23:49 pm

    247 WP: For the second innings I’d drop Prince to the middle order and see how he does. If he performs, I’d give him another run at the wanderers. I’d also, for the 2nd innings promote Amla to open, because at the rate our openers have been losing their wickets, he was opening!
    For the Wanderers test I would definitely bring in Alviro to open. Not one of the Poms could tie him down. To me, he looks a fighter and would free Graeme up to concentrate on his game and not worry about when he is going to lose his opening partner.
    Mention has been made of Harris not performing. If he cannot perform on the Newlands wicket on the last day, he needs to be replaced.

  • 253.nama1: Reply to this comment
    4 Jan 2010, 23:56 pm

    @Jinx:
    Yeah, I think that was the man. So he did not hit the full house.

  • 254.WP_: Reply to this comment
    4 Jan 2010, 23:59 pm

    Williforde

    Agreed Harry need to find some form and quickly.. He’s done a good job in the past so I’m confident he can do it again.

    Remember the 6 fer he took at newlands against the aussies last year? That’s what he’s capable of. We need that.

    I’d bring in Alviro for Prince for the next test. Make be slightly harsh but not really and Prince cant buy a run and he cant contribute with the ball, which JP can so he keeps his place.

    Anyway, I’m outta here now. Cheers. Enjoy the game tomorrow chaps. Have a great day at Newlands Williforde! Cheers nama. Watch out for posers. ;)

  • 255.williforde: Reply to this comment
    5 Jan 2010, 00:00 am

    Thanks guys. Getting late now and must go and sleep. Night all. I’ll read the posts I haven’t read tomorrow when I get back from the cricket.

  • 256.Mighty Horua: Reply to this comment
    5 Jan 2010, 08:51 am

    “Prince cant buy a run and he cant contribute with the ball, which JP can so he keeps his place.”

    When last has Greame Smith, AB de Villiers, Mark “Alleged Fighter” Bouch (apart from this 2 tests), Paul Harris contributed at all?

  • 257.WP__: Reply to this comment
    5 Jan 2010, 09:05 am

    The Queen has seen more balls than quotas Duminy & Prince

  • 258.WP Till I Die: Reply to this comment
    5 Jan 2010, 09:09 am

    @WP_:

    Ah, I see your imposter has surfaced again.

  • 259.Sheriff: Reply to this comment
    5 Jan 2010, 09:20 am

    Whichever way you look at it, a dawn-less keo environment must be a step in the right direction.

  • 260.Jozi: Reply to this comment
    5 Jan 2010, 09:21 am

    Williforde enjoy the cricket, I’ll be going to the Wanderers. I hope the series will still be alive and the weather plays along.
    We’ve had a lot of rain over the past 2 months here in joburg.

    Sheriff, you can go to RT with my blessing, you don’t have to ask anymore or post your private thoughts here. :D
    What’s this talk of “new comer” and earning ones stripes etc? I was not aware that there’s some kind of hierarchy here on Keo…..LOL….kinda reminds me of a gentleman who once called himself a “senior blogger” and then continued to give a list of other so called “senior bloggers”

    Relax fellas this is blogosphere.

  • 261.Ratel Brussow : Reply to this comment
    5 Jan 2010, 09:25 am

    @Mighty Horua: Harris took more wickets than any other SA bowler in 2009.

  • 262.WP_: Reply to this comment
    5 Jan 2010, 09:42 am

    Very convenient that “Mighty Horua” writes a comment then a couple of minutes later “WP__” writes one

    Co incidence? haha. Mighty Horua you are a sad little person. Please grow a brain then get a life.

  • 263.Mighty Horua: Reply to this comment
    5 Jan 2010, 09:44 am

    @WP_
    LOL…

  • 264.Mighty Horua: Reply to this comment
    5 Jan 2010, 09:45 am

    WP(two stroke)…Please ID yourself to WP(one stroke)

  • 265.Pearl Rose: Reply to this comment
    5 Jan 2010, 10:25 am

    @Jozi: hello jozi, i think it is left over residue from the days when he was gatgabbas with those that were obsessed with ‘senior blogger’ status. Forgive him though bad habits dies hard.

  • 266.nama1: Reply to this comment
    5 Jan 2010, 10:32 am

    @Mighty Horua:
    Is that a new oil brand?

  • 267.Mighty Horua: Reply to this comment
    5 Jan 2010, 10:39 am

    @Nama
    lol

  • 268.Jozi: Reply to this comment
    5 Jan 2010, 11:16 am

    @Pearl Rose: LOL Ag Shame Pearl, you too harsh……Sheriff can be a tad philosophical but f#ck I’m tired of his soap opera of “to go or not to go”

  • 269.Sheriff: Reply to this comment
    5 Jan 2010, 14:47 pm

    @Jozi:

    You guys are just confusing me even more.

    Just when I thought I know what Id like to do.

    Back to the drawing board I guess…

  • 270.Wezwp: Reply to this comment
    5 Jan 2010, 23:35 pm

    Smith played beautifully today.

  • 271.Wezwp: Reply to this comment
    5 Jan 2010, 23:37 pm

    Dont they update the score on this site. If i was a journo id be at Newlands with laptop.

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