South Africa well on top against New Zealand

Both wickets this morning with successful reviews

One a faint tickle on the glove down legside but the other was the most obvious LBW that was hitting half way up middle

and as I type, Santner goes for 0

111/6

almost a nasser at brisbane moment here by williamson winning the toss and deciding to field

Poor decision I think based on not wanting to face the SA attack on Day 1

They will do well not to lose by an innings

Listening to the comms discuss Ian Bell being brought back

No No No No No and another no

Charles Colville just read out his stats. I didn't realise how poor they are for this season the way his old muckers are pushing for his recall
Scored a hundred in the first game of the season against relegation threatened Hants and some 50's since for an average in the mid-30's

Hardly knocking down the door....

i just mentioned this in the other thread

trescothick trying to say that you could rely on him to get you runs at the top level if he was recalled, and colville shot him down with "well he wasn't getting runs at the top level, thats why he got dropped"

Southee in at 9

Is he able to play a supporting innings to Williamson or will he do his usual of trying to hit every ball for 6......131 short of the follow on target

Kane Wiliamson looking like he could bat all day on a tricky wicket

Looks like the Captaincy hasn't hindered his batting

More poor umpiring in the SA game

Wagner given out caught. Immediate review and it's a clear no-ball

Not sure they would have checked without the review

Neil Wagner just hit Sten for back to back boundaries including a huge 6 over mid wicket

The next one is another short one that goes over the keeper's head for 4

Dale is not amused...

18 off the over

I seem to remember him playing a similar attacking innings for us when was at OT

214 all out trailing by 267 on a tricky wicket and the follow on isn't enforced

Do they just not enforce it these days due to pressure from tv companies for the game not to finish so quickly??

SA 32-3. Excellent swing bowling.

The usual reason given is to allow the bowlers extra recovery time and reduce the possibilities of stress fractures

Not so sure myself

3 quick wickets for the kiwis after Qde K had smashed them off the first 3 overs

32/3

No, it's to rest the bowlers up, it's perfectly legitimate, particularly when their main 2 bowlers are well past 30, and again I just don't see the fuss.

Back-firing on them a bit though.

Strange old innings from SA

31/0 in 3 overs

Now they are 98/6 in 29 overs

Looks like they are trying to take time oout of the match

I can only think not enforcing the follow on means that Pretoria is going to have great weather for the next two days, and Dale Steyn isn't quite as fit as I'd hoped. Probably he and Philander need a bit of a break. SA batting very brittle though, apart from de Kock and Bavuma

Looks like he's not that hopeful of an England recall


England and Warwickshire batsman Ian Bell has signed for Perth Scorchers for the 2016-17 Big Bash season.

While Bell has not given up on a recall to the Test team - and remains a possible selection for the tour of Bangladesh and India - he is currently set to be available for the entire competition.

The Scorchers are the most successful team in the history of the Big Bash, winning in 2013-14 and 2014-15 and finishing as runners-up in the two preceding years.


http://www.espncricinfo.com/australi...y/1051665.html

Miserable start for NZ chasing 400 already 3-2

5/3 now

Steyn with all 3

Ross Taylor no chance with one that kept low off a good length

Looks like it's up to Williamson again

7/4 this is bad

Make that 7/4

Williamson gone

Another unsatisfactory 3rd umpire decision by Richard Illingworth

and another awful decision by the umpire. Luckily for NZ, they still had a review to get it changed

The officiating in this Test has been well below standard