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World Test Championship - Round #2
Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2012 3:43 pm
by Arnik
South Africa comprehensively won round #1 at the Oval.
Round #2 starts tomorrow at Headingley.
"We've always bounced back well from defeats in the past and I expect us to do so again this week," said Strauss.
"We have put that Oval game to bed and we're looking forward to what are going to be very different conditions."
Play media
Graeme Smith's men will overtake England as the world's number one Test side if they win in Leeds, but Strauss says he is only concerned with securing victory in the upcoming match, which begins on Thursday.
"It's not something we focus on on a day-to-day basis. We need to win this game if we want to win the series, and that's what we are determined to do," he said.
"You don't win every game, sometimes you make mistakes and they are punished. That was the case last week.
"There is less room for us to make mistakes and we need to come out and play smart cricket this week."
Strauss is confident that Nottinghamshire batsman James Taylor will cope with the demands of Test cricket if he is selected to make his debut.
The 22-year-old England Lions captain replaced Ravi Bopara, who is unavailable for personal reasons.
"He has a very clear game plan, he knows his game very well and the fact that he has played well every time he's played for the Lions suggests he has a good temperament," said Strauss. "I think he is a quality cricketer and I'm sure he's excited about making the step up."
Re: World Test Championship - Round #2
Posted: Thu Aug 02, 2012 6:35 am
by Arnik
Frustration for England as SA make decent start. 30 minutes before lunch and they are 62 without loss.
England left out Swann. Cook dropped a sitter at slip off Petersen.Swann would have been there.
Umpires are calling dead ball every time Finn hits the stumps. Smith was caught off a dead ball - did he hear the call, was he affected by the flying bails?
Consistency is the key and Finn was never dead balled when he was hitting the stumps against the West Indies.
Re: World Test Championship - Round #2
Posted: Thu Aug 02, 2012 8:03 am
by Arnik
SA motoring along after lunch on 94 without loss.
British humour can be pretty good. Botham just said that de Villiers is in danger of going home without a knock and he might be very upset.
Re: World Test Championship - Round #2
Posted: Thu Aug 02, 2012 8:32 am
by Arnik
England finally get Smith out as he flicks one straight to a fielder - out for 52. SA now 120 for 1.
Re: World Test Championship - Round #2
Posted: Thu Aug 02, 2012 8:48 am
by Arnik
Now England get some luck as the bearded wonder is run out for 9.
Re: World Test Championship - Round #2
Posted: Thu Aug 02, 2012 9:29 am
by Arnik
Cook makes amends for his earlier miss by taking a more difficult catch to get rid of Kallis.
SA now 157 for 3. de Villiers finally comes to the crease.
Re: World Test Championship - Round #2
Posted: Thu Aug 02, 2012 12:08 pm
by Arnik
Petersen closing in on a century, now on 93.
De Villiers on 18 not out and closing on Shiv. Don't know how many runs he needs to get above Shiv.
Re: World Test Championship - Round #2
Posted: Thu Aug 02, 2012 12:15 pm
by Arnik
Petersen gets his hundred with a sweet hook off Broad.
Re: World Test Championship - Round #2
Posted: Thu Aug 02, 2012 4:01 pm
by AFRO
I think it was a good day for South Africa, 262 on the board with Rudolph and Peterson at the crease plus Duminy to come, if they manage to push the score to 400 or close i think England will be concerned, i can't see England scoring over 350 against the SA attack,
It was funny how they left out Swann though, clearly his poor form all summer has been his undoing, although going for four quicks does stink of desperation imo.
Re: World Test Championship - Round #2
Posted: Thu Aug 02, 2012 4:29 pm
by mikesiva
Alviro hits an unbeaten century....well played.
