It’s all looking rather promising eh. England quite often start overseas tours at a slug’s pace (apparently they’re slower than snails). But this time we’ve started in the perfect fashion – thanks to a couple of our middle-order dashers.
Seeing Ben Stokes return to the side and score an imperious 158 at almost a run a ball warms the cockles. He’s becoming a bit of a streaky batsman. When everything clicks, he’s unstoppable. I think we can safely say that the lad has regained something close to full fitness.
It was also great to see Manilow Taylor make big runs. His 114 was a little more patient than Stokes’ effort, but still highly impressive. It will be rather disturbing if Taylor doesn’t bat five in the test team. He’s earned his place, waited for his chance, and deserves to play.
The only real bad news is the form of our openers. Alex Hales struggled in both innings. Scoring just 8 off 42 balls tells it’s own story. Alastair Cook has also failed to register a half-century in match – but apparently he batted quite fluently today. I doubt anyone’s worried about the skipper.
It was also positive to see Bairstow, Moeen and Compton makes some runs. They didn’t exactly give the scoreboard operators arm-ache, but all time in the middle is welcome at this stage of the tour. The Invitational XI’s bowling attack was a reasonable one (judging by their first class records) so it was valuable practice time.
The bowlers also hit their straps at the first time of asking. Stuart Broad registered an imperious 3-18, and Woakes and Moeen also had a useful and somewhat promising work out.
Mark Footitt also had an interesting day. He was wayward at times but bowled with good pace and took a couple of wickets. He must have been nervous, so I take his performance as a positive.
With England already 381 runs ahead there’s every chance of completing a morale boosting victory tomorrow. It all depends, I suppose, on whether Cook and Bayliss want to give the batsmen more time in the middle. With Root and Ballance at the crease, both of whom could use a little practice, don’t be surprised if we bat for at least an hour on day three.
James Morgan
Hales and Cook are not a good pairing. I suspect Cook will try to take the pressure off him. Not a good working partnership unless Hales suddenly blossoms, which I doubt. Detrimental to both.
How would you feel about Cook and Compo opening with Hales at 3, or better still I think, Cook and Compo opening, Taylor at 3 and Hales at 5? It wont happen but I’d be interested in your thoughts.
I would open with Cook and Compton. The problem is that the squad contains no other options at 3. I like Taylor and Ballance at 5. Overall the selectors have hamstrung the management. There’s nowhere to turn. Poor job.
I would open with Cook and Compton but I’d push Root up to 3. I have little doubt he can do the job there. Remember that there were concerns about pushing Root up to 4 after the 2nd Ashes test at Lord’s? Well he has done a fine job in the 5 tests that he has had since then overall.
I’d have Taylor at 4 and probably Ballance 5. If Hales is likely to have any reasonable success as a test player then surely as a no.5 it is.
Agree but if you were selecting the squad which batting options would you have chosen for the top order?
I’d maybe swap Hales and Compton around. I like Root and Taylor as long term options at 4/5 so wouldn’t want to move them. Maybe Hales will surprise everyone? It’s possible, albeit unlikely imho
I’ve taken little yet James. I watched a bit of ram slam and interacted with many SA fans, their domestic product is not great.
A positive is Stokes fitness
From Chris Stocks’ report on the team for the second warm-up match:
“The absence of Anderson and Broad means England are likely to name a seam attack of Finn, Chris Jordan and Chris Woakes against South Africa A. All three will be competing for the one final place in England’s attack alongside Anderson and Broad, and the all-rounder Ben Stokes, for the first Test…. Mark Footitt is now out of contention after the 30-year-old left-arm fast bowler produced an erratic performance in his first senior England appearance in Potchefstroom”.
So one match and he’s out of contention? No wonder Footitt was nervous! The selectors keep picking players and if the coach and/or senior players don’t appear to rate them they seem to get very little opportunity.
Alternatively, Stocks’ info on team selection could turn out to be largely inaccurate….