South Africa vs England (2012)

English Bowlers can take 20 Wickets, probably in the series, not in a match. Then why didn't you? After being white-washed by PAK, Strauss has been spoiled by taking 20 Wickets of Indian and West Indian Teams in England, not South Africans.That this is SA not India and West Indian .

No miraculous backs-to-the-wall heroics , a complete annihilation by a finely tuned unit. I agree with an earlier comment , Gary Kirsten is some coach !  Dale Steyn showed yet again why he's the finest strike bowler on the planet and might well rewrite the record books.  Graeme Smith was very relaxed at the post match interview and that confidence is something England will have to undermine if they're to get back in this series.  Luckily they've over a week to lick their wounds and rest some tired bodies (and minds).  I expect some serious improvements next week , but if they're to turn this around I think SA will have to go off the boil a little and all the luck goes England's way.

    A truly brilliant last 4 days by the South Africans - probably as good as I've ever seen since the all conquering Aussies of yesteryear - they are on fire.
    
    Right , now just where is that humble pie......................
   

Sam you should put a habit of reading the entire post properly.

may be only you can understand your posts Raj. 

AB is the real deal - probably the finest batsmen to have emerged in the last 8-10 years

I think we are going to see a Rising star soon, James Taylor, boy his strokes look good, signs of greatness in store. Waiting for action and cloud cover please!

194/3 RSA doing well here despite two of their best batsmen Hashim and Kallis getting out cheaply, Petersen closing in on his hundred, is another brilliant knock when under tremendous pressure by Alviro.

I'm very unhappy with England's starting XI - leaving out Swann has to be a serious error.  Add to that , winning the toss and deciding to bowl in fine conditions tells me that the hammering at the Oval has left many scars.  I suppose playing without a spinner meant they had to bowl first , but I think the visitors would have been very happy with the opposition's XI - especially the left handers in the side.
           Peterson did very well after a shaky start and will be hoping to continue the good work this morning. England have to egt into them quickly whilst the ball is new and I believe they'll need to bowl them out for no more than 350 to have a chance of a 1st innings lead.  Broad bowled poorly in te 1st session , but recovered well with the 2nd new ball - they need that aggression today. That dismissal of Smith , called a dead ball by the umpire gave rise to plenty of debate in my local. I can't remember seeing a reprieve like that in all my cricket watching life , but I can understand the decision.  It must have unsettled Finn and I think he needs to net with 3 stumps at the bowlers end to try and overcome the problem.
                I put SA just a shade ahead right now , but if these two make any sort of partnership England could be in deep doodah.  Rudolph knows the conditions and with Duminy still to come , there's a lot of work still to be done.

Yes Clobs , Smith was quick to bring it up with the umpires and that had to have an impact on the decision.  Can we expect that every time a wicket falls and the wicket at the bowler's end is broken , that dead ball will be called ?

RSA in control at the end of Day 2, I hope Steyn, Morne and Vernon get some early wickets tomorrow, otherwise ENG can reach position of safety. If both teams score around 400 runs it puts unnecessary pressure on the team playing the 3rd innings of the match, a collpase and you could be in trouble, that is what ENG will be hoping for.

Game still evenly poised at the moment.  Its been a pretty good test series so far, that's for sure.

                What an innings from KP , turned the match on its head. Titch played his part in putting off all his shots and just giving rotating the strike back to KP, so that he takes them to safety. That was one of the very important test match partnerships.

Pietersen gone early, Morne strikes!!! South Africa hit back!

Good stuff Sledger, Family and Cricket and I know the beers will be involved.  You're in paradise.

Congrats Sledge, have a good time.