Vic Marks’s report will be here shortly:
Play has been abandoned for the day
That’s no great surprise. It’s been a fun day, with some excellent bowling from South Africa and a thrilling little cameo counter-attack from Moeen Ali. He will resume on 67 not out, made from 59 balls, with England leading by 360 runs. Thanks for your company, night.
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What is a cameo? “Afternoon RS,” says Tom Bowtell. “So, what do we think are the parameters of a cameo? Under 45 at a strike-rate of more than 70? I remember first hearing the word on TMS in 1992 when Hick made 43 in 40 balls in a Test against New Zealand.”
Hmm, good one. Why 45? I reckon anything under 50 at a strike rate of 70. I think I first heard the word when Jack Russell made 13 off five balls in an ODI, also against New Zealand. Who played my favourite cameo? Mr Nixon McLean.
“Great effort from Faf du Plessis to catch Roland-Jones only to lose hold on landing,” says Brian Withington. “I recall watching a wicket-keeping class that demonstrated how even the youngsters are taught to roll as they dive to limit the jarring impact on the elbow. Will you mention that to Faf or should I?”
I’ll Whatschat him now.
A stat for you Moeen’s strike rate in this innings is 113.55. The other England batsmen have scored at a combined rate of 39.88.
RAIN STOPS PLAY
66.2 overs: England 220-8 (lead by 360 runs; Moeen 67, Broad 0) Moeen launches Rabada straight back over his head for four. David Gower once said that it’s hard work making batting look effortless. If that’s the case, Moeen is working like a beast right now. He has 67 from 59 balls, and has a real chance of a memorable centur- ACH! The rain has finally arrived, so the players are going off.
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66th over: England 219-8 (Moeen 62, Broad 0) Moeen saunters down to hoick Maharaj over midwicket for his third six. He could get a hundred here, if someone hangs around with him. Watching Moeen bat should be officially prescribed as a cure for existential weariness.
65th over: England 212-8 (Moeen 54, Broad 0) Here’s Phil Sawyer. “Actor walks into an audition. ‘Excuse me, I’m looking for a little cameo?’ ‘Okay, then,’ replies the casting director, ‘Do your dance, do your dance, do your dance quick mamma, come on baby tell me what’s the word, word up. Next!’. You can have that one for free.”
You’re better than that, Phil. You are better than that, aren’t you?
WICKET! England 211-8 (Roland-Jones c Maharaj b Rabada 11)
Roland-Jones mishits a pull over midwicket, from where Marahaj runs back to take an excellently judged catch. No matter: his partnership of 57 with Moeen has put England in an almost impregnable position.
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64th over: England 207-7 (Moeen 51, Roland-Jones 11) Moeen charges Maharaj and swings a big straight six that Bairstow, on the England balcony, is able to spring to his feet and take the catch. That might be the first time a crowd catch has been taken by a team-mate. It brings up a brilliant run-a-ball fifty from Moeen, his 11th in Tests and his fifth batting at No8.
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63rd over: England 200-7 (Moeen 44, Roland-Jones 11) Roland-Jones is dropped by Faf du Plessis. It was a brilliant bouncer from Rabada that took the splice and looped over the slips. du Plessis ran back, swooped forward and stretched out a telescopic arm to take a great catch, only for it to bounce out when his elbow hit the ground. That would have been an awesome catch. It was an awesome catch, until he landed.
Rabada tries the bouncer again later in the over. This time Moeen swaps an excellent pull for four. He is playing superbly.
“Oi Rob mate!” chirps Ben Parker. “Reckon Root will let Mo get a little cameo century before declaring?”
Too right. You never mess with a little cameo.
62nd over: England 194-7 (Moeen 39, Roland-Jones 10) Moeen flashes Maharaj over cover for four, then dances down to launch a mighty six over midwicket. Pick that out! He is really dominating Maharaj, which is quite an achievement for a left-hander on this pitch. England lead by 330.
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61st over: England 184-7 (Moeen 29, Roland-Jones 10) Still no sign of the expected rain. Rabada’s inswinging yorker homes in on the stumps of Roland-Jones, who deftly skips back in his crease and digs it out. For a No9, he can really bat.
60th over: England 183-7 (Moeen 29, Roland-Jones 10) Moeen’s lovely little cameo continues when he reverse sweeps Maharaj through the legs of Elgar at slip and away for four. He tries to repeat the shot next ball but it bounces much more to hit the gloves before pinballing around Moeen’s body and just past the stumps.
“Hi Rob,” says Henry Brown. “Isn’t a cameo ‘little’ by definition?”
Yes, yes it is. This is what happens when you publish a stream of consciousness.
59th over: England 179-7 (Moeen 25, Roland-Jones 10) Rabada replaces Olivier, the last, last, last, last, last throw of the dice from South Africa. An LBW against Roland-Jones is turned down, on the grounds that it wouldn’t have hit the stumps.
“I’ve noticed you’ve gone down the Mark Corrigan path of achieving laddishness through calling everyone mate - I’m more of a pal kind-of guy myself...” sniffs Tom Van der Gucht. “I was thinking about other captains who liked to buck the trend of under-bowling themselves. Didn’t Flintoff pretty much ruin his knees(?) chasing wins by sending down excessive amounts of overs?”
Yeah, especially against Sri Lanka at Lord’s. I was thinking more of occasional bowlers – Vaughan, Root, Steve Smith, Steve Waugh, Michael Clarke. Mind you, Allan Border took 11 wickets to beat the mighty West Indies, so I may be talking out of the Rob Smyth End
58th over: England 179-7 (Moeen 25, Roland-Jones 10) Moeen hits consecutive boundaries off Maharaj, a lap round the corner followed by a lofted sweep. This is an infectious little cameo of 25 from 31 balls, and has probably sealed the series for England.
“Evening Rob,” says Simon McMahon. “99.94 of the time England win this Test. But hey, you know...”
57th over: England 171-7 (Moeen 17, Roland-Jones 10) A flashing cut from Moeen off Olivier is superbly fielded in the covers by Rabada, which probably saved four runs. Nothing can stop Roland-Jones’ withering pull, however, and those four runs take England’s lead to 307.
“Hi Rob,” says Ed Smyth. “Re: the 54th over, can something still go wrong if you’re all three of those things at once? Or does that suggest something already went very wrong?”
Come back to me when you’ve got a vowel in your surname mate.
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56th over: England 166-7 (Moeen 16, Roland-Jones 6) “Mate England are safe,” says Amod Paranjape. “Make no mistake. What I don’t understand is why Joe Root is underbowling himself since becoming captain.”
Captains always do mate. They have enough drain on their mental energy. Unless they’re a specialist bowler like Courtney Walsh, in which case such a policy would be dangerously funky.
55th over: England 165-7 (Moeen 15, Roland-Jones 6) Roland-Jones gets off the mark with a hearty clump for four off Olivier, who then has a shrieked appeal for LBW turned down. It was missing leg.
“Did they really tell you the middle name of England’s current number five in journalism school,” says David Wall, “or have you been having Visions of Johannes?” Arf!
54th over: England 159-7 (Moeen 15, Roland-Jones 0) Moeen is dropped by Elgar at slip! It was a sharp low chance, as Moeen pushed forward at Maharaj. Elgar grabbed it by his left foot but lost control of the ball as he rolled over.
There’s a weird atmosphere at Old Trafford, as if England had a lead of 450 rather than 295. They should win because these are not easy batting conditions,. But the fact is, nothing comes with a guarantee. I don’t care if you’re the Pope of Rome, President of the United States or a Wisden Cricketer of the Year; something can all go wrong.
WICKET! England 153-7 (Bairstow c Rabada b Olivier 10)
Bairstow pulled the last delivery of Olivier’s over to fine leg, where Rabada took a good low catch after originally misjudging the flight of the ball. England lead by 289.
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53rd over: England 153-7 (Moeen 9) Moeen uses his rubber wrists to work Olivier through midwicket for three, and then Bairstow wallops a pull through the hands of Amla at midwicket. It was hit ferociously and would have been a stunning catch. It doesn’t matter because now Bairstow is out!
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52nd over: England 144-6 (Bairstow 4, Moeen 6) Moeen wants to take on Maharaj, that being his nature, but it’s not easy with the ball doing naughty things from out of the rough. He contents himself with a carefully driven single off the final delivery of the over.
51st over: England 143-6 (Bairstow 4, Moeen 5) Oofah! Olivier’s first ball after tea is a gorgeous full-length delivery that seams past Moeen’s outside edge. The final ball is clouted to the cover boundary by Bairstow, who gets off the mark from his 25th delivery. England will probably feel safe if their lead, currently 279, reaches 300. South Africa’s best hope is that Amla enters a zone of serenity and makes a matchwinning 140 not out.
“Dear Rob,” says Colum Fordham. “Just been playing cricket with Sri Lankans in the broiling hot sun of Naples in some improvised nets inside an abandoned five-a-side football pitch (surrounded by brambles - the Sri Lankans asked me if vlackberries were good to eat) on the outskirts of Naples, interestingly opposite the immaculate English cemetery. Had to face an extremely good Sri Lankan left arm spinner who told me he had played for Sri Lanka A against the likes of Chris Woakes and Moeen Ali several years ago. Incredibly difficult to get to the pitch of the ball. Can feel for the England batsmen against the subtle spin of Maharaj.”
Is that Chatura Randunu? I’d imagine that experience really rams home how good someone like Root is at judging length when facing spin.
“Dawid Malan has no ‘o’ in his name,” notes Daniel Butcher. “Didn’t journalism school say you should have at least two sources Rob?”
No, but it did tell me that Malan’s middle name is Johannes.
Tea: England lead by 274 runs
50th over: England 138-6 (Bairstow 0, Moeen 4) The last over of the session is a maiden from Maharaj to the watchful Bairstow. He has nought from 22 balls. But his last-wicket partnership with James Anderson yesterday looks more significant by the minute. See you in 15 minutes for the evening session.
Jonny #Bairstow's 99 is now worth about 150 #ENGvSA
— Tim de Lisle (@TimdeLisle) August 6, 2017
49th over: England 138-6 (Bairstow 0, Moeen 4) That was nicely bowled by Olivier, who has quietly had a decent game. He angled it across Stokes, with just enough movement to take the edge as Stokes leaned into a straight drive. Olivier almost makes it two wickets in two balls, with Moeen inside-edging his first ball this close to off stump and away for four. Crikey. England lead by 274.
WICKET! England 134-6 (Stokes c du Plessis b Olivier 23)
South Africa are still in there brawling! Stokes edges Olivier to first slip, where du Plessis takes a good catch as he falls backwards.
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48th over: England 130-5 (Stokes 19, Bairstow 0) Another good over from Maharaj to Bairstow, who remains stuck on nought after 17 deliveries. That’s the fourth consecutive maiden.
“Alexander Daniel Hales will probably not get to play Tests against the West Indies; unlike everyone else in the current side, he lacks even one O in his name,” says John Starbuck. “Another example of unconscious selectorial bias?”
Tell it to Mark Daniel Stoneman.
47th over: England 130-5 (Stokes 19, Bairstow 0) A maiden from Olivier to Stokes. He and Bairstow are in no hurry, and have added one in four overs. That’s partly because of the match situation, partly because rain is coming. The longer England bat, the more this already tricky pitch will deteriorate.
Adam invited our thoughts on Morne Morkel’s length (37th over) by reference to a Mike Selvey tweet on the subject, which also made the connection with Mike Hendrick that you shared on OBO yesterday,” says Brian Withington. “The obvious assertion is that Morkel’s natural length is a shade too short. I suspect that Michael Holding would beg to differ, but I don’t recall the fearsome WI quartets of yore pitching too many up in the batsman’s half? Where is the Hawkeye pitch map library for the 70-80s when you need it?!”
Jeez, they would be fascinating. Holding and Marshall in particular pitched plenty up, most of the time anyway. I’d like to see a pitch map for Patrick Patterson at Sabina Park in 1986, or for Marshall bowling to Dilip Vengsarkar.
46th over: England 130-5 (Stokes 19, Bairstow 0) Bairstow survives an LBW appeal when he misses a sweep at Maharaj. It was slipping down the leg side. That’s the lot.
“My online weather map,” says Mac Millings, “suggests a storm is blowing from out of Jimmy’s end.”
45th over: England 130-5 (Stokes 19, Bairstow 0) Stokes smokes Olivier into the leg side, where Kuhn almost takes a sensational leaping catch at short midwicket. His reaction time was almost non-existent, as Stokes really nailed his pull stroke, and Kuhn could only parry it up in the air.
“At what point would you declare, Rob?” asks William Hargreaves. “Do the forecasted conditions look Anderson-friendly?”
I wouldn’t, not with a 2-1 lead. The forecast isn’t great for the rest of the match, but there’s no pressure on England to chase a win. And this is only the third day, which is easy to forget when it’s Sunday.
44th over: England 130-5 (Stokes 19, Bairstow 0) “Hello Adam,” writes our old friend Sara Torvalds. “I’m reading the OBO on a train heading west from Helsinki, on my way to a friend’s cottage by the sea on the Hanko peninsula. If I feel for my friends in Cricket Finland, Cricket Sweden has their work cut out for them too: Finland is bilingual and since my mother tongue is Swedish, my phone settings are in Swedish too, so I was treated to the machine-translated version of what the Cricinfo app does when it required updating recently. “Live cricket scores” became “Bor syrsatjog”, which equals “Lives/Is living in + cricket (the insect, not the game) + a score of, i.e. 20 pieces of”. I stared at it for a bit before I saw how the pieces fit (sort of).”
43rd over: England 129-5 (Stokes 18, Bairstow 0) England lead by 265. Logic suggests that’s already enough, such is the spin and uneven bounce.
WICKET! England 129-5 (Root b Olivier 49)
Joe Root has gone for 49, dragging the new bowler Duanne Olivier onto his stumps. That kept a bit low, and Root’s footwork was unusually indecisive. He looks somewhere between disconsolate and affronted. On the plus side, at least nobody will be talking about his conversion rate of fifties to hundreds tonight.
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42nd over: England 129-4 (Root 49, Stokes 18) Stokes tries a couple of reverse sweeps off Maharaj, and nails the second for four to bring up the fifty partnership. He has had enough of being dominated by Maharaj, and charges the next ball to smash a majestic boundary over midwicket. The floodlights are on now, such is the gloom, and a rain break is imminent.
41st over: England 120-4 (Root 48, Stokes 10) Stokes walks down the trick to flick Morkel wristily behind square for four. He plays the most beautiful strokes at times.
40th over: England 116-4 (Root 48, Stokes 6) Now Maharaj drifts outside leg stump to Root, who drags a sweep into the ground and over the gloves of de Kock for four. He has his own postcode at the top of the list of leading runscorers in this series.
“Following you discretely from the beachfront family dinner table in Phuket,” says Craig Beck. “Please inform the team that collapse is only acceptable provided they polish off the Sarnies for the win before my 2 hr trip to elephant washing tomorrow morning.”
The Sarnies?
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39th over: England 111-4 (Root 44, Stokes 5) Morkel drifts wearily down the leg side to Root, who flicks him to the fine-leg boundary with the minimum of fuss. Root’s record in the second innings isn’t the best - one century, an average of 41 - but this has been a fine performance in tricky conditions against some excellent bowling. He has compromised his usual attacking style, and by doing so has probably ensured England will win his first series as captain.
This is a good spot from Ian Andrew. “England are currently dependent upon Bairstow, Cook, Root and Stokes for most of their runs, and most of their catches!” says Ian. “Besides being the only reliable runscorers they are wicketkeeper, 1st slip, 2nd slip and 3rd slip.”
38th over: England 105-4 (Root 38, Stokes 5) Thanks Adam, afternoon everyone. It’s been a strange day so far, with South Africa palpably on top but nobody too worried about England’s prospects because of their big first-innings lead. Root gets in an almighty tangle trying to reverse sweep Maharaj, who is getting it to kick viciously out of the rough, and then Stokes is beaten outside off stump. The last delivery pitches well outside off stump and spits across Stokes’s body for four byes down the leg side.
UltraEdge, meanwhile, suggests Stokes thin-edged Morkel to de Kock a couple of overs back. Nobody appealed, and Stokes betrayed no guilt in his reaction.
It's with regret that the Club announces the passing of former player, Captain, Chairman & President, Doug Insole - https://t.co/CcEcu4zB26 pic.twitter.com/AiJ8KeK8IT
— Essex Cricket (@EssexCricket) August 6, 2017
37th over: England 100-4 (Root 38, Stokes 5). Stokes moving it around with a lot more ease when facing Morkel, collecting a couple of singles through cover in the over before drinks, bringing up the 100 in the process. Oh, and soon as I say that Morkel beats the edge... again. My last thought on that topic is something Mike Selvey said on twitter yesterday - in fact, I’ll plonk it below. Thoughts on him pitching it up more? Send them to Rob as he’s taking over now with the players having some cordial. Thanks for your company. See you again soon.
Morkel 2 wickets seems injustice. But beat bat so often not unlucky, means fraction short. It's why Mike Hendrick never got Test 5 fer.
— mike selvey (@selvecricket) August 5, 2017
36th over: England 97-4 (Root 37, Stokes 4). Maharaj is now over the wicket to Root, who takes him on with a crunching sweep. That’s just about shot of the day when you consider the footmarks out there. The captain is on here. Michael Vaughan asked if Root is the best England player of the modern era. “No question,” he says.
Tim Joyce isn’t thrilled with what he has seen today: “Yet again three out of our five top batsmen fail to either score runs or occupy the crease in both innings - with the exception of Wesley who at least hung around a while in the first. Not only does this put too much pressure on Cook & Root, it leaves us relying on the middle order to score big runs, and when they don’t we collapse. Some hard work needed before the Ashes!”
Sorry to say it, but I agree. Pattinson. Brisbane. Starc. Brisbane. Cummins. Brisbane. Hazlewood. Brisbane. They’re nursing them through to be ready, make no mistake. Forget where I’m from, I want a close Ashes in Australia. Haven’t had one in modern memory.
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35th over: England 93-4 (Root 33, Stokes 4). Morkel takes a few balls to get into it, Root profiting with two through point then another couple wide of square leg. Shout for leg before, but it was missing by some way on first glance. Turned down, no consideration of a review.
Robert Wilson adds to the Gideon thread we have stumbled upon: “Gideon Haigh is a nailed-on genius. He can do everything. Forget the cricket. Read his knockout piece on the neglected and weird genius of Neville Chute. And is also the man who said that the opposite of funny is not serious, the opposite of funny is not funny. I hate Gideon Haigh so much it keeps me warm at night.”
Robert also also got Kimberley Thonger ticking over. “I’ve thought for some time that our Brexit negotiating position is not ambitious enough. The return of the Aquitaine should be a key demand, and very possibly a red line.”
Paul Noble is after the TMS link on youtube. Sure, why not.
34th over: England 88-4 (Root 29, Stokes 4). Bit of purpose from the leadership duo here, running hard when they get the chance. Root takes a couple from a dab through the cordon, then another with a push to point to end the over. Lead 224. Worth keeping an eye on that.
How’s this for a stat... Morkel beating the bat this series. He’s back on now. Good call.
Yes, we’ve been keeping a keen eye on it. The current figure is 90. The most he has ever beaten the bat in a single series.
— The Cricket Prof. (@CricProf) August 6, 2017
33rd over: England 85-4 (Root 26, Stokes 4). Yorkshire all out 113 at Scarborough, Essex running through them. Keep an eye on the county blog with Will. It’s Rabada again here at Old Trafford. Root takes one from the first ball, giving Stokes a chance to see seam for the first time today. He’s defending off the back foot and then the front, a well-timed push to mid-on suggests he is seeing them well. He cuts well to end the over, but Bavuma is there to make a diving stop at point. Brilliant fielder.
“There’s been a lot of chat about Jenning’s “Last Chance Saloon” but surely Malan is also for the cricketing annuls?,” writes Ben Parker. “Why would he get selected unless he is actually a top class leggy that the selectors are sneaking in under the radar - should Mason Crane and Adil Rashid be worried?”
There’s an Alex Hales For Number Five movement growing on the internet. I watched him bat at Leics the other night and boy he hits them sweet. I’ve heard crazier ideas.
32nd over: England 84-4 (Root 25, Stokes 4). Wrong I was: Stokes leaving again, comes back with massive turn again and the England vice-captain is lucky to keep his off-stump. Phwoar. This is game on. Then one goes underground! Too good for Stokes and de Kock, to the boundary. Four byes. Inside edge next - albeit not to hand. Such a scrap. Stokes hits back though, sweeping powerfully to get off the mark. Phew.
Brian Withington has found Gideon. Oh the treats he has to come: “Your admonition from Phil Roberts has emboldened me to lay a similar charge at your door in relation to your reference to Gideon Haigh before play. I have spent the rest of the day researching his “oeuvre” which I must shamefully confess I was only peripherally aware of. (A bit like an OBOer admitting that they were unfamiliar with Ian Copestake!) Working my way through YouTube clips at mo (including the 2012 Bradman oration) before even attempting the written words. Curse you.”
Start with Mystery Spinner.
31st over: England 76-4 (Root 25, Stokes 0). Just the slightest width and length to work with and Root is thumping Rabada past point for a timely boundary, along the ground all the way.
Robert Wilson has cred on matters French. Let’s listen to him: “Enough with this piffle and paffle about French cricketing etymology. The French simply can’t be trusted when it comes to answering anglophone questions about the language of Diderot. Furnishing random and improbable obscenities to genuine enquiries is about the only fun they have. They never stop. NEVER accept a helpful suggestion or you will end up confidently and confidentially telling the French Minister of Culture that you are hung like a hoover or you like it hairy. Happens to me once a week. Additionally, if the subject is cricket; you are just asking for trouble. Don’t trust them. Agincourt is still a thing round here.”
30th over: England 72-4 (Root 21, Stokes 0). The vice-captain Stokes joins his skipper to generous applause. A fraction more urgent than expected a couple of hours ago. BIG SHOUT for leg before! He’s not offering shot. But they don’t go upstairs. And that’s a good call, TV shows it was missing off-stump. Came back a long way though. Enough spin out there to suggest we won’t see him shouldering arms again. Fantastic cricket.
WICKET Malan out for 6 off Maharaj
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) August 6, 2017
72/4 #ENGvSA
Match centre: https://t.co/OXL4eze4Ex pic.twitter.com/AsTkfOJIdk
WICKET! Malan c de Bruyn b Maharaj 6 (England 72-4)
It doesn’t matter! Quality finger spin from Maharaj, earning the inside edge and into the hands of forward short leg. Safely taken. Another double failure for Malan - 35 runs at 8.75 in his four hits.
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29th over: England 71-3 (Root 20, Malan 6). That’s uggggly from Malan. DROPPED by Bavuma, who was full stretch running with the flight in the third man direction. No issue with his effort. The shot though. Taking on Rabada from well outside the off-stump, bouncer height. Degree of difficulty trying to pump that over midwicket? Wery high. Anyway, he survives the top edge.
28th over: England 67-3 (Root 19, Malan 2). After bowling such a disciplined length to Root, Maharaj ends with a full toss. The captain doesn’t miss out, clobbering that to the midwicket rope. His second boundary. The lead now beyond 200. So if you’re watching the telly it’ll be about half an hour until Warne starts talking up the declaration. Or bagging Steve Waugh.
Genuinely interested to see who England pick instead of Stoneman against West Indies.
— Dave Tickner (@tickerscricket) August 6, 2017
27th over: England 62-3 (Root 15, Malan 2). Shot from Root, quick hands to turn Rabada from leg stump fine for four. He’s angry, responding with a quicker delivery that bounces into Root’s thigh pad. Malan picked up his second run to square leg earlier in the over. The lead is 198.
Rabada bowling to Root. Highest of quality Test cricket. #ENGvSA
— Adam White (@White_Adam) August 6, 2017
26th over: England 57-3 (Root 15, Malan 1). Maharaj around the wicket and tight at Root. Really enjoying this. Bounces into his approach and finishes the follow through still bouncing. Root sweeps well when the chance comes, to the man at deep backward square. Malan gets off the mark to retain the strike, also sweeping. Eleven openers have joined with Cook since Strauss and none have lasted more than 20 innings, we’re told by Andrew Samson on TMS. That was Hales. Who has had one of the great weeks of white-ball cricket, as it happens.
Keaton Jennings made 18 from 63 balls - an innings that was painful to watch. England need an opener for the WI series
— Chris Stocks (@StocksC_cricket) August 6, 2017
25th over: England 55-3 (Root 14, Malan 0). Significant innings for Malan too with pretty much every player in England earmarked for number five over the last week. Touch unfair given he’s batted three times in Tests. But that’s Blockbusters. He defends then leaves to see out the over. A wicket maiden.
WICKET Jennings out for 18 after nicking to slip off Rabada
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) August 6, 2017
55/3 #ENGvSA
Match centre: https://t.co/OXL4eze4Ex pic.twitter.com/vnRebEYAeI
WICKET! Jennings c Amla b Rabada 18 (England 55-3)
Cutting, edging, gone! Too close for the shot. Looks awful. And Jennings knows it, cursing and slashing as he walks from the field, knowing that his Test career will now almost certainly take a pause. Well bowled Rabada generating the extra bounce. Jennings finishes with 127 runs at 15.87 for the series.
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24th over: England 55-2 (Jennings 18, Root 14). Maharaj with the first over back. Root takes a single to begin out to point. Jennings makes hard work of the middle part of the over before getting a single through square leg to retain the strike.
“There you go Adam, you’ve just come up with the title for your forthcoming book,” writes Jeffrey Earp in Italy on my earlier take with playing hours. Move them forward, I say! “We All Have Dinners to Get To: an OBO View of International Test Cricket.”
Simon McMahon is having a swell time in Manchester. “Been at Old Trafford Friday and Saturday, now watching from Piccadilly station waiting for train back to Dundee. Mike Brearley walked right past me Friday morning, saw Roots 5000th Test run, Jimmy taking wickets from the Jimmy End, and a visit to Salford Lads Club included too. Best two days of the summer, all thanks to Mrs McMahon, friends Scott and Maria McLaughlin, and the OBO. We don’t like cricket - WE LOVE IT!!!” Love the passion. Hope you got a Moz-themed pic at SLC.
“I hear Christopher Doherty (12th Over),” notes David J. Govantes-Edwards. “As I child I spent half my time in Shropshire and the other half in Seville, where no one had ever heard of cricket (or, indeed, mixed it up with croquet). I tried to teach my Spanish friends to play, as the winter months with no way to follow what Botham, Gooch and the like were up to were very long indeed. It was an unqualified disaster and gave up teaching them pretty quickly. I remember once walking down the street with a bat and a man asking me what on earth I meant to do with only the one oar...”
OBO red meat.
Ask a question about wicket etymology, expect a flood of emails. Here we go...
Tracy Caton gets us going: “wicket from Norman ‘viquet’ from Old french ‘guichet’”.
John Starbuck takes it further: “There’s also a hint that cricket itself might apply too.” This is far from my comfort zone, but I’ll take your word for it: Define wicket. wicket synonyms, wicket pronunciation, ... guichet. krikettkapu. leiksvæîi milli marksúlnalota eins kylfings í krikketmarksúlur.
Phil Roberts has some more: “The French alphabet doesn’t really have a W, whereas it’s always been something of a favourite amongst the Germanic languages. Many years ago, the French changed W into Gu for some reason that only philologists can explain - not me, in other words.”
But also a segue out: “On a totally different note, I have a bone to pick with you, Adam. As have, no doubt, my near neighbours in this thinly-walled Melbourne apartment block. You Tube has been trawling through the James repertoire ever since you posted “Getting Away With It” before the day’s play started. I’ve heard “Laid” on a virtually continuous loop ever since. I wonder if I’m the only one to be affected in this way. I hold you totally responsible!”
If this is the one thing to come from my furious typing today then it has been worth it. They didn’t play Laid last night on account of the festival organisers saying they had to finish up after all the earlier delays. They closed with this instead.
Exotic locations keep trickling in. Some brilliant spots. Justin Dillon is on the ferry between Buenos Aires and Colonia in Uruguay. Robert Wolf Petersen reads from Ubud, Bali. “Just settling in for a dinner of tandoori spiced chicken skewers.”
Chris Yates says it is 40+ degrees where he is too: Sulaimaniyah in Iraq. Martin Lawrence is in a rehearsal for Berlioz’ La Damnation de Faust, to be performed at the Proms on Tuesday. Arty. Peter Mackelworth comes to us from Lošinj Island in Croatia.
The last word, John Alexander at the Pacific flank of Costa Rica. “All palms and gentle lapping waves. 6.20 am. About to head in for a nice long pre-breakfast swim. I’m backing Jimmy to take 6 in the second for a tenfa to celebrate this end biz. Toodle splosh.”
Thanks for playing along. Where they are also playing is in the County Championship! Keep an eye on Will Macpherson’s blog down below through the week.
Updated
LUNCH: England 53-2 (Jennings 17, Root 13)
England took quarter of an hour to secure their first innings lead, Broad taking the final wicket, the advantage 136 runs.
That’s moved along to 189 by lunch, albeit with two wickets falling along the way. Both Cook and Westley had their edge found by Morkel, who did a fine job across an eight over spell.
Jennings was put down in the cordon early, but has persevered. For it to count, he’ll need to now prosper in the afternoon session. Root has looked confident from the moment he arrived, in a good contest with the spinner Maharaj before the break.
Righto. I’ll grab a bite to eat myself and be back with your emails. Mostly about wicket etymology. You predictable bunch, you.
Updated
23rd over: England 53-2 (Jennings 17, Root 13). Last over before lunch. Before it begins, you’ve flooded me with emails over the last hour. Thank you. We’ll skip through them at lunch. For now, Olivier. Who earns one one play and miss from Jennings. Been a few of those. But he’s still there, defending and leaving well enough to get to the break. That’s lunch. Back in a moment.
22nd over: England 53-2 (Jennings 17, Root 13). Maharaj doesn’t get another proper crack at Root, who is safely down the other end. Jenning’s beaten on the outside edge with one that doesn’t turn. Had to play. Good bowling. Then gives the next one a lot of turn, crashing into his pad. An appeal, turned down. Upgrade that to really good bowling. To get out of strife, Jennings deploys another reverse sweep. Maharaj looks right for a big afternoon if he can get a bit of luck. He’s done well to rush through this one too, with it being 12:59pm South Africa will get one more in before their sandwiches.
Ravindra Jadeja has been suspended for the upcoming Pallekele Test after an accumulation of demerit points.
— ICC (@ICC) August 6, 2017
More ➡️ https://t.co/ak92tVNNQ8 pic.twitter.com/AfwNwPzAys
21st over: England 52-2 (Jennings 16, Root 13). A very straight drive Root’s response to a full Olivier delivery to begin, back into the non-strikers’ stumps. Frustrating for any batsman when the wood doubles as a fielder. Oh and another one has shot through. The second of the morning. Root just gets down in time. Maybe that’s partly to blame for the lavish drive he attempts to end the over, playing and missing. Probably not the shot this close to lunch. Replay doesn’t flatter him. But we know from Root’s lengthy interviews following his 254 here last year how he responds to errors: a series of deep breaths. Simple but effective. It was a year ago, in any case.
Bringing the threads together, as ever, Ian Copestake: “I have a friend who is in an exotic location so that I do not have to be. He is meant to be getting me some wine while he is in Burgundy. If not his cat that I am “looking after” might be fed some Greek weed with lemon.” Greek weed. I laughed.
20th over: England 52-2 (Jennings 16, Root 13). Good little contest emerging between Maharaj and Root. Forced to defend early on, before taking advantage of some flight to stride down the track and drive to the sweeper at deep cover point. He’ll get another in before lunch.
“Even less glamorous here than Shenzhen,” reports Kimberley Thonger. “It’s a children’s funfair at Willen Lake, Milton Keynes, where unfortunate batsmen still come away with a prize.” A photo is attached, a ‘hook a duck’ carnival game. ‘Prize every time,’ it says. I read from time to time that this is at the core of what is wrong with the world. Yeah, that’s it.
Anthony White has a bit more for us. And wants your help. “On a more serious and more contentious note, I have always understood that the term “wicket” is a corruption of the french word “guichet” . There are other examples of this sort of thing, guerrier/warrior, guêpe/wasp. Can anyone confirm?” Anyone want in on this?
19th over: England 51-2 (Jennings 16, Root 12). The England 50 brought up through Jennings’ best shot of the morning, stroking Olivier through the covers. Lovely drive.
Anthony White says nice things about the coverage. Thanks Tony. “I understand Christopher Doherty’s problem well,” he continues. “Here in France also, croquet seems to be better known than cricket. On hearing that I am talking of a different, and far superior, game they either roll their eyes with that french (see Eddie Izzard) look as if all misunderstandings have their root in Britishness, or smile excitedly and say ‘oh yes, baseball!’ I have several court cases outstanding.”
18th over: England 47-2 (Jennings 12, Root 12). Classy maiden from Maharaj, who has impressed throughout this series. Gives it a big rip to Root, who is pushed back then brought forward. Nearly slips one through the gate. Then to finish hits the pad, warranting a big shout. Turned down, missing leg. No review this time.
No hat-trick for Mohammad Amir but he currently has bowling figures of 7-3-9-4https://t.co/ZhJTPfQ1aK
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) August 6, 2017
17th over: England 47-2 (Jennings 12, Root 12). Yep, it is Olivier for his first go this innings, replacing Morkel who took 2-22 in his eight over stint. Has stepped up as the attack leader in Philander’s absence. Root comfortable watching the right-armer to begin, before clipping a single behind square. Jennings watches the last ball pass by. The lead now 183.
“Could you please put in a word to the ECB about test match starting times?” asks Peter Lee. “I live in St Kitts in the West Indies, and the five hour time difference is really annoying, like waking up and missing the first thirty overs. It would be jolly good if you could all start at 1pm with stumps at 10pm around my tea time.”
I’m the other way on this. Let’s get them out there at 10:30pm. Test days are rarely, if ever, are done by 6pm these days anyway. Work back from there. We all have dinners to get to.
16th over: England 46-2 (Jennings 12, Root 11). “It wasn’t the best review,” says an understated Graeme Smith on what happened last time Maharaj was at the bowling crease. Suggests that du Plessis was talked into it by bowler and ‘keeper. The left-arm orthodox misses his line to Root here, who makes no mistake sweeping hard to pick up his first boundary. He’s better to Jennings to conclude, winning an inside edge. But it doesn’t end up with the short leg.
Haseeb Hameed gone for 5 at the Ageas. Hadn't played a shot in anger, then drove Fidel Edwards and edged to second slip.
— Will Macpherson (@willis_macp) August 6, 2017
15th over: England 41-2 (Jennings 12, Root 6). Morkel goes again, for an eighth on the spin. “Surely it’ll be his last one,” says Vaughan on the radio. Root starts with a couple to cover. Looking at ease early. Another through point later in the over, with some good running, before Jennings pushes confidently to finish.
Tom Morgan is grateful for Jonathan Leach’s intel. “Thanks. Now I know what she’s doing I felt obliged to explain cricket to her in my limited Greek. I think I won her over but she says why do we keep picking Jennings.”
14th over: England 38-2 (Jennings 12, Root 3). Jennings responds to the review with a boundary to finish off Maharaj’s first over of the innings. A reverse sweep, no less. That’ll do. He’s into double figures.
WICKET Morkel gets another as Westley goes for 9
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) August 6, 2017
30/2 #ENGvSA
Follow: https://t.co/OXL4eze4Ex pic.twitter.com/wkLk8yQxMC
NOT OUT! That’s a poor referral from Faf. Kicked away, sure. So it doesn’t need to hit in line. But missing by some way.
REVIEW! Has Maharaj trapped Jennings? They’re taking a look.
13th over: England 33-2 (Jennings 8, Root 2). Morkel again. Six overs a decent shift for the giant quick. Finds Root’s edge, but along the ground. One taken. Jennings beaten by a good one, across him and fending but no contact made. Important little session for the hosts, 35 minutes to the interval, their lead 169.
12th over: England 32-2 (Jennings 8, Root 1). Jennings get off strike to the first Rabada delivery, giving his captain a chance to have a look for the first time today. He has to use his bat throughout, and also takes a quick-ish single to Bavuma. Home far more safely than Jennings was earlier, mind. He’s off the mark. And keeps the strike.
On the ‘where are you watching’ rounds. Steve is in Cairns. “Sitting on the balcony at Clifton Beach, just outside Cairns, its 8.45 pm here and just listening to the Coral Sea pound onto the beach , while fighting with a second bottle of Shiraz (hard day). Must admit you Poms have a semi-decent team this time and it will make regaining the Ashes all the more pleasurable. Thanks for your coverage.”
Steve, don’t tell anyone, but I’m not English. Well, I live here and I have a red passport - and on that basis I might get a game for England. It’s complicated.
Jonathan Leach is in Rhodes. “You can tell Tom Morgan (5th over) that the old woman in the park is picking ‘horta’, which is indeed a weed but which is inexplicably considered a delicacy here in Greece, especially amongst elderly women such as my in-laws Katy and Eleftheria. It’s so bitter you have to drown it in lemon juice to make it edible.”
Facts, facts, facts! That’s a cracker. I will email Tom to alert him.
Christopher Doherty: Córdoba. “43º odd outside. Not glamorous at all. Hardly anyone here has ever even heard of cricket. If they have, they start going on about mallets and hoops in the ground. Maybe I’m in Wonderland.”
Mark Slater is reading on from his bed in Cornwall. You have your own money though, so I’ll pay it. More of this later.
Updated
WICKET! Westley c sub b Morkel 9 (England 30-2)
Oh, the ball after playing a delightful square drive punch to the rope, Westley has edged to the gully when trying to drive to mid-on. Very similar to how he went in the first innings at The Oval. Will fuel his critics, who believe he’s too inclined to seek runs through the legside. South Africa are behind by 166 in this Test, but vaguely back in it now with Morkel doing the heavy lifting. They know they can take ten cheap England wickets from their last trip out of London. If they can get Root early it’ll be game on, that’s for sure.
11th over: England 30-2 (Jennings 7, Root 0).
Updated
10th over: England 26-1 (Jennings 7, Westley 5). Quick single! Blimey, taking on Bavuma is bold. But Jennings makes it. Out if it hit. Surprised he didn’t - one of the best ground fielders in the game. Westley’s single, also to cover, less stressful. Jennings defends well enough to see out the rest.
John says his Midlands location isn’t exotic. He has a take, though: “Now that Anderson has his own end, there must be endless jokes about him chasing his own tail or getting his end away. Toilet jokes about firing a loosener from his own end.” I’ll take that as a comment.
Updated
9th over: England 24-1 (Jennings 6, Westley 4). Morkel from the Jimmy End. Continues to defend and leave competently enough. Until he has one shoot low! Didn’t see that coming. Lucky it wasn’t on target. Gets a beauty to finish, Morkel beating the number three who is stuck a bit on the crease there. Plenty of movement. Maiden.
Neglected to pop in that Cook wicket from before. Here you go.
WICKET Cook caught off Morkel for 10
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) August 6, 2017
16/1 #ENGvSA
Match centre: https://t.co/OXL4eze4Ex pic.twitter.com/9OWStNRHdt
8th over: England 24-1 (Jennings 6, Westley 4). That’s better. Jennings gets on one the pads from Rabada and doesn’t miss out. His first boundary. Defending well to finish it off. Maybe he’ll make the most of that chance and put together a dazzling hundred. Maybe.
Flooded with emails with exotic OBO locations. Should have known, you culture vultures. Let’s race through some over the next couple of overs.
Mike Clarke is in Shenzhen: “I’m lying on my bed watching the sunset. Soon be time for dinner, and planning a Zhejiang meal this evening. With several bottles of Tsing Tao of course.” Have that.
Andrew Samson on BBC with a nice stat for Westley: the first four partnerships he was involved in as a Test cricketer have reached 50.
7th over: England 20-1 (Jennings 2, Westley 4). Quality bumper from Morkel to Westley to welcome him along. Like. A confident couple of leaves follow from the no. 3. He’s reached 50 balls in reach of his three innings for England so far. And off the mark with a drive past point to the rope. Not the most stylish stroke, but does enough to reach the rope. Nice start for him.
“I’m not sure Jennings really does need a ton to survive,” writes Elliot Carr-Barnsley. “I’m not a huge fan of his, but this hasn’t been a particularly sensational top order batting series. The pitches have been good for cricket and there have only been four fifties and one hundred from any of the openers in 28 innings across the series before this one. To rule him out now would still be harsh.”
You’re right. He doesn’t, strictly speaking, need a ton. But you know what I mean. He can’t leave here, say, before tea. And even that might not be enough. It’s the situation he has found himself in.
Bit of chat about weather around here as well. Didn’t realise that was the case. But they say on TMS the rain might arrive earlier than anticipated. Urgh. Please don’t.
WICKET! Cook c de Bruyn b Morkel 10 (England 16-1)
They don’t drop a second one back there! Morkel rewarded for pitching slightly further up, Cook electing to drive but miscuing straight to gully. The catch went quick, but de Bruyn was all over it.
Updated
6th over: England 16-0 (Cook 10, Jennings 2). DROPPED!! Jennings put down by Elgar to the second ball of Rabada’s over. Pushing at a ball he probably didn’t need to play in an effort to get off the mark. It required a dive to the third slip’s left, but he should have taken it. You can tell from his reaction. Jennings knows it too, his face telling a story until that grill. How will he respond? With a couple to cover, getting him off the mark. Well, it’s a start.
5th over: England 14-0 (Cook 10, Jennings 0). Morkel beats Cook cutting early. Doesn’t miss many of those. Gets a couple behind point in more convincing fashion to move into double figures, the leading moving to 150 in the process.
“Does my front room in Beijing count as exotic?” asks Richard Woods. You’re behind the music festival in Japan. That’s the clubhouse leader. But thanks for dropping a line.
Tom Morgan is another doing it tough. “Does Lesvos beat Crête for exoticness? About even I’d say. I walked up a mountain in 40° heat to see the ancient amphitheatre which it turns out isn’t there any more. Now following OBO in a park where a woman is pulling up the weeds and stuffing them in a plastic bag. Not sure why but I bet she wouldn’t understand cricket either.” Your mission is to engage her. Explain it. Embrace it.
4th over: England 12-0 (Cook 8, Jennings 0). Leaving, leaving, leaving. Defending, defending, defending. Jennings has plenty of work to do, but that’ll do a bit for his confidence early in the stay.
Shane Warne has managed to talk about declaring in the 5th over – the man is an artist. #ENGvSa
— Charlie Reynolds (@cwjreynolds) August 6, 2017
3rd over: England 12-0 (Cook 8, Jennings 0). Much like the first innings, Morkel right on top of Cook with one that angles in and tails away. Pretty much unplayable. But in response he doesn’t generate the same late movement, the opener able to shuffle across the create and time a boundary through midwicket. Very Ali Cook, that. And another boundary to end the set, albeit from the outside half of the bat. I’m being generous again, it’s an edge. Between the cordon and gully. Positively motoring. The lead 148.
“Sneaking furtive OBO updates from a festival in Tokyo while my wife dances with the old dears in the picture,” relays Jonathan Perry. I’m not savvy enough to add the photo, but it is as he says. “Shouted inappropriately loudly at the last SA wicket and had to pretend that I was just really impressed with the music. Don’t think anyone was convinced. Thanks for the ever-interesting coverage!”
Beautifully done. At the aforementioned shambolic music festival I was at last night I popped the men’s 100m final on my phone with about 20 people crowded around. How communal. Also pretended to call the long jump final, with several referenes to Jumping Jai Taurima. Beautiful man, had a bit to do with him when after retirement he became the security police officer on the front door of the Australian PM’s office when I was an adviser in there.
2nd over: England 4-0 (Cook 0, Jennings 0). Rabada to Jennings. Oh, and he gives him a good’un to begin. Was always destined to be so with the situation the opening bat is walking into. Nothing about this will be easy. It beats his edge, mercifully. And does it again later in the over! Plenty of jag here from the quick. But he gets through it. Phew. Back to back maidens.
“Morning Adam.” Hi there, Nick Parish. “Have enjoyed following OBO for many years now, and one enduring stalwart of the conversation has been the excellent spectating seat from the grungy basement at Guardian Towers. But now you say you’re there? In the Press Box, no less?! I thought newspapers were supposed to have fallen on hard times? Or do you have a particularly compromising set of photos featuring The Man and Weird Uncle Fiver that you have put to good use?”
Simply put: I get around. Got to, being a hack very much of the freelance variety. And thanks for your loyal company!
1st over: England 4-0 (Cook 0, Jennings 0). Highly ambitious shout for leg before, Morkel striking Cook’s pads, but it is going well down the legside and ultimately down to the rope to begin England’s second innings. Maiden completed with some decent pace towards the end of it.
The other Andy Wilson has dropped me a line. “Following OBO from a beach in Crete.” Yeah cheers mate. “It is 38 degrees but the sea and the drinks are cool. Pity me!” Reading from somewhere exotic? Somewhere nicer than where Andy is, even?
Historical context. For what it is worth. 1961 quite juicy.
Only two first innings deficits larger than 136 have been overturned into a victory at Old Trafford: 177 (1961) & 179 (2008). #EngvSA
— Freddie Wilde (@fwildecricket) August 6, 2017
Keaton Jennings.
So here it is: his last chance. How must that feel? Not inaccurate to say, is it, that how he performs today could alter the trajectory of his life? Find a ton, hold his spot, who knows. Nick off early, dropped, he’s a quirky entry in the ‘tons on debut’ list. Brutal business. And on the way out now, alongside Alastair Cook. Good luck to the lad.
WICKET! SOUTH AFRICA ALL OUT 226! Olivier c Bairstow b Broad 4.
Olivier can’t resist, swinging hard at the first ball of Broad’s new over. It’s short, the top-edge goes high in the air, giving Bairstow enough time to race back and complete the catch. South Africa’s first innings ends with a deficit of 136. Despite not getting the five, Anderson still leads them off with a big smile on his face. Job done.
Updated
72nd over: South Africa 226-9 (Morkel 20, Olivier 4). Anderson into his familiar channel to Morkel, who is solid throughout with a straight bat, leaving confidently as well. Maiden. Broad another chance to deny Anderson his home five-for, how I’m looking at it.
71st over: South Africa 226-9 (Morkel 20, Olivier 4). Boycott on the radio saying he would have given Anderson a chance from the Anderson end by bowling Moeen the second over today. Anyway, it is Broad here. He’s taken to square leg by Morkel first ball of the set, exposing the number 11. He’s defending well for the most part, but gets a work out at the end of the over, copping on one the thigh then an inside edge to finish.
7oth over: South Africa 225-9 (Morkel 19, Olivier 4). Quick single, Jennings nearly runs out Olivier. They end up collecting five from it with the no. 11 steering an edge beyond gully. Being generous calling it a steer on reflection. Either way, it’s in the book.
69th over: South Africa 220-9 (Olivier 0, Morkel 18). Olivier does what he needs to do to survive the Broad mini-over. Theee balls to come, he’s beaten with one but gets the full face to the final delivery. That’ll do. The crowd are very happy with that, for it gives Anderson the chance to claim his first five-for at Old Trafford. Go you good thing.
I’ve actually made a meal of that before play. It was Broad from the Anderson End, of course. And Anderson now from the Statham End. End chat: the best kind. Love a joint with multiple names for an end, especially when on radio. Especially enjoy an ‘Old Football Stand’ End. Suspect this is an interest only I have, though, so I’ll leave it there.
Updated
Last bit of colour before we get going.
Was trawling around the world wide web yesterday trying to find something Gideon Haigh wrote about radio commentary (or so I thought) some years ago. Came up short. But did happen upon a preview of the weekend in Australian live music he wrote for The Age on 1 May 1987. Suspect you’ll like this.
Looking for something Gideon wrote about cricket commentary, stumbled on his preview of the weekend in live music from The Age, 1 May 1987. pic.twitter.com/x2VtEBHyCf
— Adam Collins (@collinsadam) August 5, 2017
Kids with flags at the ready.
Suggests the players aren’t far away.
Jimmy on the radio with TMS. “It a bit surreal and difficult to describe really,” he says of bowling from the James Anderson End. Adds that he is copping it from his teammates in the rooms. Fair enough, too.
His comrade Stuart Broad having a warm up bowl in front of us. He’ll be coming from the Brian Statham End from the get go with three balls to come in his over having picked up Rabada to cap yesterday evening. Ripping catch from Stokes to make that so.
Right, here they are. Cue Jerusalem.
Updated
Opening the batting.
Is Amod Paranjape. Morning, Amod. “After Jimmy, who? And please don’t say Woakes.”
Well, I will. CR Woakes. Encouraged to read in these pages yesterday that he’s back to First Class cricket this week after a lengthy tear in his side way back when during the Champs Trophy. Don’t forget what he did last summer. He was Jimmy for significant portions of it. Go on: back him in.
Stuie Neale wants to see the Three Lions tally up a 450 lead by tea tomorrow and make them hurt a bit. “Looks a great batting wicket so may need runs.” I reckon they might try and do it in four days and get a round of golf in. Rare these days.
Quick story. Went to a shambolic music festival in Liverpool yesterday. Hope and Glory, it was called. I’ll spare you the details, but it was a real circus. Got to see James, though.
Welcome to day three from Old Trafford!
If England were scripting out their Saturday, it couldn’t have gone much better. In turn, they’re in a position to just about seal the series by the time they go to bed tonight.
In no small part this was due to the great Jimmy Anderson. Riding shotgun with Jonny Bairstow for a 50-run final wicket stand, then picking up four wickets in the afternoon, it was a clinic from the old boy.
Three strikes in 22 balls from his own end in the final session, the defining passage of the day, gives him a chance to collect a maiden five-wicket bag at his home ground to begin. Provided Stuart Broad doesn’t finish it off first, that is, as Anderson joked after play last night.
For South Africa’s part, they trail by 142 with a single wicket left. Once that’s out of the way they realistically have one final chance to get back into this: bowling England out in a hurry to leave themselves vaguely chaseable.
But as we’ve learned in this series so far, fourth innings targets have been in theory only. So their seamers are going to have to get real busy. Thankfully, far as the contest is concerned, they have the attack to do just that.
Adam Collins here to steer you through the first few hours before the mighty Rob Smyth takes the baton into the evening. I’m perched up in the Old Trafford press box, so this should be a bit of alright. Hit me up at the usual OBO places: adam.collins.freelance@theguardian.com for your considered verse, @collinsadam the hottest takes.
Adam will be here shortly. Before that, here Jimmy Anderson on his spell on day two:
Jimmy Anderson said he felt additional pressure when he took the new ball at the end that now carries his name but was delighted to end the day with four victims to leave him one away from a maiden Test five-wicket haul on his home ground. The 35-year-old said he could not care less who closes out the South Africa innings as England continue on their path towards a 3-1 series win.
“I felt like I couldn’t bowl badly,” said Anderson, whose figures of four for 33 included a game-breaking spell of three for six in 20 balls. “It feels very strange still to hear it being announced. But I’m thrilled by the honour and it’s nice to get some wickets.
“It would be great to get my first five at Old Trafford but it will be tough because Stuart Broad will have the ball in his hand in the morning. We’ll have to see if he lets me have the [James Anderson] end in the morning. But I just want that last wicket, I don’t care who gets it.
“The atmosphere was fantastic today, the crowd are absolutely amazing all day – if well-oiled by the end – and it is a brilliant place to play when it’s like that.”
Anderson’s day was not just about his removal of Dean Elgar before lunch, lbw third ball, nor the quickfire treble after tea, but a morning alliance with Jonny Bairstow that added 50 runs for the final wicket, albeit with the wicketkeeper the last man out for 99.
