In summary, then
An intriguing, if flawed, day of Test cricket with which neither side will be completely happy. No South African batsman kicked on and got to 50, despite Amla, De Villiers, Elgar and Bavuma looking well placed to do so, and England may come to rue their failure to run through the home side, that unbroken eighth-wicket partnership proving a bit of a spirit-dampener after an excellent afternoon session in particular. The pessimistic hunch, from an England point of view, is that the tourists might find their work cut out tomorrow. This pitch certainly offers pickings for bowlers. Anyway, thanks for all your emails, tweets and many, many cricket-themed Bowie homages. Bye.
Stumps: South Africa 267-7
89th over: South Africa 267-7 (Morris 26, Rabada 20)
Broad is given the honour/burden of this long day’s final over. It’s decent without being overly threatening and Morris is disinclined to really go for it. He plays it out defensively until being beaten all ends up by a sharp, lifting beauty from Broad. And that’s it for the day.
88th over: South Africa 267-7 (Morris 26, Rabada 20)
Morris dabs Stokes wide of gully for a single but the bowler’s follow-up is excellent, an outswinger that leaves the left-handed Rabada nibbling at the thin air as the ball zips through to Bairstow. Two more singles follow. It’s a good final over of the day from the all-rounder though.
87th over: South Africa 264-7 (Morris 24, Rabada 19)
Anderson, round the wicket at Radaba, shows good footwork to stop the batsman’s straight drive, and he’s frustrated again as he finds a thick edge off the left-hander that flies wide of the slips and brings another two runs. It’s been that sort of day for England’s all-time leading wicket-taker, who sees the penultimate ball of the over swung at and missed outside off-stump by Rabada, who connects heartily next ball, hammering it past mid-off for four. This partnership’s status might yet be upgraded to “pivotal”.
86th over: South Africa 258-7 (Morris 24, Rabada 13)
Cook’s treatment of his bowlers continues to emphasise the short, sharp spell and Finn is withdrawn from the attack after two overs, replaced by Stokes, whose one loose delivery on the offside is flayed lustily through extra cover for four. His stray one down leg has to be taken on the dive by Bairstow to prevent four more. Everyone looks a little tired now.
85th over: South Africa 254-7 (Morris 20, Rabada 13)
Morris and Rabada rotate the strike with a single each after Rabada had been tempted into a play and miss by a devilish slanting delivery from Anderson, but otherwise the batsmen are untroubled.
84th over: South Africa 252-7 (Morris 19, Rabada 12)
Finn keeps Morris on the defensive with fast, accurate, good-length bowling but there’s no breakthrough. His one blemish at the moment is in his run-up – he oversteps again to concede a no-ball – but follows it up by bamboozling Morris with a quicker delivery that pops up off the top of his bat but lands safely just beyond the bowler.
And here’s the absolute final Bowie email, from Michael Jenkins; all subsequent ones will be blasted into space to join Major Tom: “I don’t know about Bowie puns, but, Hang On to Yourself, here’s a thought to Fill Your Heart with nostalgic joy. It’s exactly Five Years since one of the most Golden Years in England Test cricket history came to a climax with those wondrous 2010/11 Ashes. Where’s the Fascination with this anniversary? Where are the Conversation Pieces in this paper? After All, It Ain’t Easy to win there; until the Heroes of 2010/11, Ashes to Ashes, England fans could onlyLook Back in Anger at what happened in the intervening years down under after ‘87 and Cry. Yes, after what happened last time in Oz some might say I’m Deranged to bring up the Ashes down under, that it’s Time to Move On, but I just can’t help thinking, Day-in Day-out, of our boys doing that celebratory Magic Dance that will Never Get Old on the SCG outfield; Can’t Help Thinking about Me, sat in my pants watching, thinking that sometimes this can be a Real Cool World. Thomas Jenkins, if you post this I’ll Love You ‘Til Tuesday.”
83rd over: South Africa 251-7 (Morris 19, Rabada 12)
Morris pulls Anderson square on the legside for one, but luckless Jim continues to be frustrated. He slants a couple of decent outswingers across Rabada’s defences but gets no joy. England could really do with at least one more breakthrough tonight.
82nd over: South Africa 250-7 (Morris 18, Rabada 12)
Finn is rewarded for his earlier excellence by being granted the new ball. He finds pace and bounce, as you’d expect, but a fuller ball brings Rabada a single following a push to mid-off. Morris flicks another single off his hips before Finn oversteps, adding one more to the extras tally. These lower order players are acquitting themselves well though, and they bring up the 250 after Rabada’s sturdy push through extra cover for four. That should have been a no-ball too.
81st over: South Africa 243-7 (Morris 17, Rabada 7)
Anderson is back for the new ball, and there’s a chance! first up, Morris squirting off his outside edge to the diving Stokes at third slip but it possibly didn’t quite carry, and is parried by the fielder. Morris can bat though, as he demonstrates firstly in deftly carving a full-length ball wide of gully along the ground for four and then getting four more, clipping a wayward legside ball to the deep midwicket boundary
In the meantime, here’s some light reading, on heavy hitting – Ian Botham’s in 1982 against India, to be exact – from Steven Pye:
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80th over: South Africa 235-7 (Morris 9, Rabada 7)
Bairstow performs another one-man appeal, for a catch behind off Moeen, this time and manages to convince his captain, Cook, to review, given that it’s the 80th over and they’re about to get two reviews back. But there was a reason why the other 10 England players weren’t interested – the replays show absolutely no contact. It’s a tight over for five balls, and a bit shoddy for the remaining one, which is pretty much a beamer that slips out of the front of Moeen’s hand – an attempted doosra, reckons Michael Atherton – that Rabada clobbers over his head for six. Farewell old ball.
79th over: South Africa 229-7 (Morris 9, Rabada 1)
Morris pulls Broad across the line in front of square on the legside and picks up two. Broad’s slips appear to be in very close, which might have influenced that shot selection. There are two from the over, the penultimate one with the old ball.
78th over: South Africa 227-7 (Morris 7, Rabada 1)
Moeen continues to do the sort of job required of him, keeping it tight and the batsmen honest. A maiden.
77th over: South Africa 227-7 (Morris 7, Rabada 1)
Morris, having hit a four he knew nothing about in the previous Broad over, gets a similarly streaky single, pulling across the line and top-edging beyond gully. This gives Broad the chance to come round the wicket and spear a few into the left-handed new batsman, Rabada, the last of which zips through the tail-ender’s defences and prompts a solo appeal for an edged catch by Bairstow. No one else is remotely interested though, not even Broad. Rabada is off the mark with a flick down to fine leg. “With regards to Mr Rickman, Professor Jeremy Snape and Truly, Madly, Deep fine leg are, unfortunately, the best I can do,” apologises Anthony Ferguson.
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76th over: South Africa 225-7 (Morris 6, Rabada 0)
Moeen continues, keeping it nice and controlled, and the No9 Rabada doesn’t try anything too daft, so it’s a maiden. It’s been a funny old day, neither side having managed a spell of really firm dominance. But England will be happier now.
75th over: South Africa 225-7 (Morris 6, Rabada 0)
Morris get four without knowing the first thing about it, a short-ish ball from Broad rearing up at his outside edge and sailing high over the slips. He works another one round the corner on the legside for a single. Then South Africa toss another wicket away, Vilas, having played smoothly, miscues a pull across the line to backward square leg where Moeen takes the catch.
“Watching England often leaves me feeling Unwashed and Somewhat Slightly Dazed, but I do have an Occasional Dream that The Supermen of this current team can make the next Five Years into Golden Years. It Ain’t Easy, but all they’ve got do is Win,” writes Robert Wolf Peterson. In other music news, the Barmy Army trumpeter is playing the theme tune from Postman Pat.
Wicket! Vilas c Moeen b Broad 26, South Africa 225-7
Vilas goes, holing out to Moeen on the backward square leg boundary after miscuing a shorter ball. He really didn’t need to do that.
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74th over: South Africa 220-6 (Vilas 26, Morris 1)
Moeen hurries through another over – though there’s absolutely no chance of getting through 90 before 3.30, so we’ll almost certainly go until four – and Vilas adds two more with a firm back-foot push on the offside. A lot of anonymity-requesting among OBO readers today – are people’s bosses particularly on the prowl, or is it a panicky response to those stories doing the rounds about companies’ rights to snoop on emails?
73rd over: South Africa 218-6 (Vilas 24, Morris 1)
Broad continues, and Vilas remains keen to take the fight to him despite the run-out, cracking him through extra cover for four. He adds another single, properly scurried and run this time, after a back-foot push to point. “I’m hijacking this thread,” writes Andy Plowman, “to offer an Alan Rickman-based tribute (because I couldn’t think of any Bowie puns). Ladies and gentlemen, I give you, Hans Grubber.”
72nd over: South Africa 213-6 (Vilas 19, Morris 1)
Morris gets off the mark with a single in a tight over, and England are back on top now. South Africa just haven’t been able to compile that telling partnership today.
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71st over: South Africa 212-6 (Vilas 19, Morris 0)
Broad goes short at Vilas and is somewhat harshly called wide after a true, straight bouncer. He goes fuller and is then gloriously driven for four. Then calamity strikes for the home side, as Bavuma is run out responding too slowly to get to the striker’s end for a run that wasn’t on amid hesitation and miscommunication. Woakes throws, Bairstow gathers extremely well and breaks the bails to end a partnership that was looking threatening.
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Wicket! Bavuma run out 23, South Africa 212-6
Out of nowhere, a mix-up, Bavuma appears slow to respond to Vilas’s call for a single, and Bairstow picks up the throw smartly, dives forward to break the bails and dismisses a danger man.
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70th over: South Africa 206-5 (Bavuma 22, Vilas 15)
Vilas is showing the sort of aggression that du Plessis lacked, clubbing Moeen square on the legside for four. Two more follow after a square cut on the offside. “Never mind the Bowie puns,” lies another anonymity-requester, “Finn’s bowling like a lad insane…”
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69th over: South Africa 200-5 (Bavuma 22, Vilas 9)
It’s nice and sunny now and the Wanderers is bathed in a pleasing early-evening light (pleasing if you’re there, of course, rather than, say, stuck in an office in London’s grey Kings Cross district). And Stuart Broad, back on the field, is now back into the attack. He finds a little unanticipated bounce against Bavuma, rapping him sharply on the hand with a ball that comes back in a touch. Another neat cover drive is well intercepted by Jimmy Anderson, though Bavuma manages a single. As does Vilas to bring up the 200.
“I think my earlier offering of Moeen Love deserves reprising, wouldn’t you say….?” pleads Luke Williams. Consider it reprised.
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68th over: South Africa 197-5 (Bavuma 21, Vilas 7)
Vilas pushes Mooen, who’s bowling from round the wicket at these right-handers, towards mid-off and scurries through for a single. It’s the only scoring stroke of the over. “I’d say the lack of Bowie puns is nothing major, Tom,” ka-boom-tishes Robin Hazlehurst.
67th over: South Africa 196-5 (Bavuma 21, Vilas 6)
Vilas is yet to be dismissed in domestic cricket since returning from the tour of India, and he’s yet to be dismissed here, working Finn away on the legside for a single. Finn then beats Bavuma with a good-length ball outside off stump that keeps a fraction Low, inviting another laboured Bowie reference. The one off-radar delivery is punished with a four though, Bavuma glancing it cleanly down to the ropes at fine leg.
66th over: South Africa 191-5 (Bavuma 17, Vilas 5)
Cook continues to rotate busily, restoring Moeen to the attack. And attack is what Vilas does, advancing down the track and cracking it straight over the bowler’s head for four. A misfield at backward point gives him another single.
“It looks like the David Bowie/cricket puns have dried up,” taking out a whip and preparing that flagging horse for one more spell of punishment. “Have people stopped seeking their small moments of Fame?”
65th over: South Africa 186-5 (Bavuma 17, Vilas 0)
Finn continues, probing in line and intent, forcing Bavuma to defend and when the bowler does stray short down the legside the batsman can’t connect. An uneventful maiden.
64th over: South Africa 186-5 (Bavuma 17, Vilas 0)
Stokes generally avoids giving Bavuma too much offside room this time, but he’s tucked away on the legside for a single to bring on strike the new man, Vilas, suddenly thrust into the action by de Kock’s mishap. He’s hurried up by his first ball, which Stokes jags back into him but plays it away competently enough.
63rd over: South Africa 185-5 (Bavuma 16, Vilas 0)
England’s man of the moment, Steven Finn, replaces Anderson and maintains the tight line required at Bavuma – you really can’t give him room outside off-stump – but the No6 manages a single after turning one round to fine leg without properly middling it. It’s another excellent over from Finn but from its most indifferent delivery comes … a wicket, du Plessis helping a half-tracker to the square leg boundary where a back-pedalling Hales takes the catch with ease. Every wicket has come in the first over after a bowling change, fact fans.
Wicket! du Plessis c Hales b Finn 16, South Africa 185-5
The hitherto becalmed du Plessis decides to go for a shot and pulls lazily – and straight down the throat of Alex Hales at deep square leg. Finn has done it again.
62nd over: South Africa 184-4 (du Plessis 16, Bavuma 15)
Bavuma looks completely settled already, and he cuts Stokes majestically for four square on the offside, taking full advantage of being given just too much room. Stokes isn’t quite accurate enough in this over, offering too much that’s wide outside off-stump but this has been a very positive response to the early loss of a wicket in this session, to the extent that they suddenly look the more ascendant side. Another nudged single completes the over.
“Not a Stokes wicket, nor a different-ball wicket,” suggests Tom Adams of de Villiers’ dismissal. “That wicket was neither down to Stokes’ personal voodoo nor to the change of ball – it was a classic “drinks break” wicket, where the batsman’s concentration and groove is disrupted by a break in play. Only in this case it wasn’t drinks, it was playing hide and seek with the old ball. So ABV is still the author of his own misfortune, which is somehow pleasing.”
61st over: South Africa 179-4 (du Plessis 16, Bavuma 10)
Bavuma inside-edges Anderson square on the legside for a single – that wasn’t far away from the stumps at all. The bowler’s still finding some movement off the seam, as he does to probing effect with an absolute peach that’s too good for du Plessis, beating his tentative nibble outside off stump as it jags away past him and through to Bairstow.
60th over: South Africa 178-4 (du Plessis 16, Bavuma 9)
These batsman appear to have decided to attack, runs coming fairly easily. Bavuma clips Stokes on the legside for a single, and du Plessis also finds runs in front of square on the onside with a well-run flicked three. Stokes then bangs one in short, and Bavuma is tempted, hooking it safely round the corner without properly middling it – one run ensues.
59th over: South Africa 173-4 (du Plessis 13, Bavuma 7)
News from the home dressing room that De Kock “went over on his knee” yesterday, no one knows where for sure, went for a scan this morning, which revealed nothing particularly serious. Ian Botham airs a rumour that he’d knacked it while out walking his dog, but Robin Jackman is eager to scotch that. Anyway, Du Plessis opts to take on Anderson, pulling uppishly across the line, clearing the in-field and adding four.
“The Modern Love of accurate decisions, has surpassed the Golden Years of relying purely on the umpires. The Sound and Vision new technology gives us, can ensure that All the Young Dudes out on the field, have as fair a decision as possible. Where Are We Now? – may be not at perfection, but it’s better now we’re not Absolute Beginners at understanding this new technology……. Sorry, I’ll get my coat,” says Joanne Beasley, assuming we’d even offered to hang her coat up in the first place.
58th over: South Africa 169-4 (du Plessis 9, Bavuma 7)
Stokes v Bavuma should be a compelling battle, the latter opting to be watchful and defensive in this over until he seizes on a slightly overpitched delivery to drive with precision and style to the long-off boundary for four. Delightful batting.
Thoughts on de Villiers’ dismissal:
57th over: South Africa 165-4 (du Plessis 9, Bavuma 3)
Anderson is immediately restored to the attack with a new batsman in, du Plessis working his third ball to leg for a single. Bavuma continues where he left off in Cape Town, getting off the mark with a delicious cover drive that brings a well-scampered three. He’s been the most aesthetically pleasing South African batsman of this series, for my money.
Is another record up for grabs in this already stat-tastic series?
56th over: South Africa 161-4 (du Plessis 8, Bavuma 0)
Stokes returns to the attack, with a fairly orthodox and assertive off-side field. He strays just a little down the legside with one ball, that du Plessis helps down to fine leg for one where Samit Patel, on as a sub for poor old Staurt Broad, fields. But he need not worry about batsmen going for their shots and attempting to play him on the legside because he strikes from one such instance, taking the prized scalp of de Villiers, who hooks, edges off the glove and goes. The South Africa captain doesn’t hang around for a review. He knows he’s gone. English tails are up.
One, just one, more Bowie email, relating to Michael Clarke’s possible tastes: “Pup would like mid-80s Bowie, exclusively,” writes Paul Ewart. He’d be within his rights to, up to a point, I reckon. Let’s Dance, Modern Love, Blue Jean, even This is Not America – all very, very good indeed.
Wicket! De Villiers c Bairstow b Stokes 36, South Africa 161-4
Stokes has done it again! AB hooks, gloves it and Bairstow takes. Key moment?
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55th over: South Africa 160-3 (de Villiers 36, du Plessis 7)
Moeen gets us underway again, de Villiers scoring the first run of the session with a nonchalant push to mid-on. Du Plessis flicks another single before de Villiers steps down the track to produce a shot that has Statement of Intent written all over it – a princely swipe that disappears, literally, over deep midwicket for six. It requires a replacement ball. Here we go.
Possibly filling in for Broad or Anderson as required as the years/fitness issues take their toll. He deserves a role, certainly.
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Afternoon again everyone. Is there a more beautiful sight in cricket sport life than a pace bowler snaring a high-class batsman with a seaming, swinging proper-length jaffa that takes the outside edge and nicks through to the keeper? And Steve Finn’s ball that dismissed Hashim Amla was right up there with the most glorious. After a rather limp start, England’s attack, collectively, bowled really well in that session – and it wasn’t just Finn: Jimmy Anderson and Ben Stokes set the tone swiftly after lunch, and Moeen Ali too proved his wicket-taking worth. But AB de Villiers is still in, so English chirpiness needs to be kept in check. Players will be back out in a minute.
TEA
54th over: South Africa 152-3 (de Villiers 29, du Plessis 6)
Some natural away swing from Anderson, as de Villiers loosens his grip to ensure an edge just seeps into the turf before dribbling into the hands of gully. He decides on a single to the fourth ball, which du Plessis is a little late on reacting to and has to put in a dive to make his ground, though the throw at the stumps was wayward.
That’s tea – 79 for two in that session, off 29 overs. Good work from England, particularly Steven Finn. That is all from me. Tom Davies will be taking over for the evening sessions. I’ll see you all on Saturday!
Seriously good spell of bowling from @finnysteve! #SAvEng pic.twitter.com/YbT4A4r839
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) January 14, 2016
53rd over: South Africa 151-3 (de Villiers 28, du Plessis 6)
Moeen Ali comes in to give Steven Finn a well-deserved rest. Moeen Ali decides to come over the wicket to the right-handers from this end and Alastair Cook moves himself under the batsmen’s nose. de Villiers gets a single mid-over and then du Plessis, who Moeen has snared a few times, gets a juicy full toss that he puts away for four through cover.
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52nd over: South Africa 146-3 (de Villiers 27, du Plessis 2)
James Anderson is back into the attack and bowls a maiden to du Plessis, who is a tad uncertain. He thinks about going after a short delivery but, at the last moment, thinks better of it.
51st over: South Africa 146-3 (de Villiers 27, du Plessis 2)
AB de Villiers counter punches superbly, cutting Finn in front of point for four. A straight delivery and he offers the face, before opening it at the point of impact to get two into cover point. Finn tries to give a bit back but another short delivery outside off stump is hit for two through cover.
In rather desperate news, Alan Rickman, giant of British film and theatre, has passed away at 69. My, what a god awful week. Here is Pete Bradshaw on “an actor of singular charm and hypnotic charisma”.
50th over: South Africa 138-3 (de Villiers 19, du Plessis 2)
Another quick over from Ali: it’s almost like he knows people want to watch more of Finn doing work and is desperately trying not to inconvenience everyone. Selfless from Mo. Only a single conceded, as de Villiers clips to midwicket.
49th over: South Africa 137-3 (de Villiers 18, du Plessis 2)
“Just 20 minutes of hard work left here boys,” bellows Bairstow behind the stumps, as de Villiers leaves a well directed delivery outside off stump. The ball before, Finn had strayed onto his pads and timed brutally between midwicket (close) and square leg (fence) for four. Ooooooooosh – Finn beats du Plessis all ends up. Similar to the one that did for Amla, only there was daylight between bat and ball. A edge comes, but into the ground in front of third slip, before a second Finn belter of the over passes that little bit closer. Quality.
48th over: South Africa 132-3 (de Villiers 13, du Plessis 2)
A quick over – another maiden – from Ali, as du Plessis plays out in front of his pad. He’s cautious, but fleet-footed, pressing off the front foot to anything that gets above knee roll height.
The only player Steven Finn has dismissed more in Tests than Hashim Amla (four times) is Imrul Kayes (five). #SAvENG #CricViz
— The Cricket Prof. (@CricProf) January 14, 2016
47th over: South Africa 132-3 (de Villiers 13, du Plessis 2)
Finn gets the chance for a good go at de Villiers. His is the most treacherous bounce and de Villiers’ bottom hand is stung by the third ball, which threatens to take a digit. A fuller ball has de Villiers driving, but only onto inside thigh. An quality maiden from Finn.
46th over: South Africa 132-2 (de Villiers 13, du Plessis 2)
Two for de Villiers, as Ali goes on to the pads before he works one to midwicket for a single. Ali immediately tries to beat the outside edge of Faf’s bat but soft hands allow two to third man.
45th over: South Africa 127-3 (de Villiers 10, du Plessis 0)
Steven Finn, who has enjoyed success against AB de Villiers, comes into the attack and takes the wicket of Hashim Amla. If you can access the highlights later – or have a gander at one of those sneaky gifs – then DO, because it was a high class piece of bowling. Faf du Plessis is the next batsman and immediately Finn is hitting the splice.
WICKET! Amla c Bairstow b Finn 40 (South Africa 127-3)
What a ball that is! Steven Finn comes into the attack and bowls a ball – quick, good length, nipping away at the very last moment – that only a player of Hashim Amla’s class could edge.
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44th over: South Africa 126-2 (Amla 40, de Villiers 9)
Really good from Ali, who might well have been taken off after coming on and getting a breakthrough. He keeps AB de Villiers in check with a tighter line and the Proteas skipper takes a single to allow Amla to see out the over. A big LBW shout goes up as Amla plays forward to the fifth of the over, but it might have been spinning too much. No review asked for.
Cricket South Africa have now confirmed that “former Proteas, Dolphins, Titans and Lions cricketer, Gulam Bodi, is the intermediary who has been charged under its Anti-Corruption Code”. Bodi has been charged with contriving to fix, or otherwise improperly influence aspects of the 2015 RAM SLAM T20 Challenge Series. Full statement is here.
43rd over: South Africa 125-2 (Amla 40, de Villiers 8)
“Surely Ashes to Ashes is the perfect epitaph for Pup’s career. It even references his ‘funky’ field placing,” suggest Paul Ewart. I’d be very surprised if Pup is a Bowie fan. In fact, he strikes me as one of those that might pretend to like bands because he thinks it’s cool. “Oh what, this old rag *points nonchalantly to well-worn Ramones T-shirt* Yeah I’ve had it for a while...” Stuart Broad bowls an over of short stuff at Hashim Amla, missed with the odd fuller change-up. Amla remains diligent.
42nd over: South Africa 125-2 (Amla 40, de Villiers 8)
Good afternoon, OBOers. I’ve been brought on after the drinks break, hopefully to catch one of these two unawares. Hopefully Moeen Ali will do his bit too. AND HE DOES! Great delivery from Moeen, who is around the wicket and gets the perfect, Swann-esque drift and dip into the lefthander, before turning off the pitch for a caught behind. The next man in is the interim skipper AB de Villiers. He averages 40.81 at this ground, with three hundreds. Doesn’t take him long to get going: He’s skipping down the track to his second ball and thumps it straight for four. Another four follows, this one worked wristily over James Anderson at midwicket.
WICKET! Elgar c Bairstow b Ali 46 (South Africa 117-2)
Moeen Ali strikes, two balls after the drinks break, getting one to drift into Elgar and then spin enough to snick through to Bairstow!
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41st over: South Africa 116-1 (Elgar 46, Amla 40)
Elgar slightly fluffs a pull off a short ball from Broad but it gets enough distance to enable him to run a single. Amla then does one of the things he does best – cover-drive exquisitely for four off a shapely in-swinger. One more single follows, and that’s drinks. Vish will take you through to tea. We shall speak later.
Dale Steyn clarification:
40th over: South Africa 110-1 (Elgar 45, Amla 35)
Steven Finn is back in the attack, and punched off the back foot through the offside for three by Elgar. After a couple of looseners it’s a pretty decent over from Finn. We have at least had a good contest between bat and ball in this session.
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39th over: South Africa 107-1 (Elgar 42, Amla 35)
The ailing Broad returns to the attack, and won’t be feeling any better after Elgar confidently pulls his first ball across the line to the midwicket boundary for four. Broad’s straining every sinew here but Elgar’s looking composed enough and adds another single before Amla is hurried up by a decent fuller in-swinger that he manages to push away on the legside.
38th over: South Africa 102-1 (Elgar 37, Amla 35)
Stokes changes angle and comes round the wicket at Elgar, who scuffs out a decent attempted yorker. The opener then scores his first run for three overs with a push on the offside. It’s the only one of what is another decent enough over.
“People are too willing to believe the technology is perfect,” writes Nicholas Clarke on the subject of actual cricket. “Just because the animation shows the ball hitting the stumps it doesn’t mean it was in reality, that’s just physics. How accurate the device is, is a trade secret, but no instrument is perfectly accurate and we shouldn’t be so keen for perfection, it’s unhealthy!Where the animation shows the ball just hitting the stumps means that it would probably be around there if not for the pads etc, which reasonably suggests we should stay with the on field umpire.” I agree that there’s a tendency, in general in all sport, to shout “send for the magic techno-robots” in response to every officiating controversy.
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37th over: South Africa 101-1 (Elgar 36, Amla 35)
Another good over from Anderson – variety, movement, the usual – from which Amla is necessarily defensive and it’s a maiden.
Tom Janes is absolutely bossing the Bowie-cricket tangent, with “He may have foreseen the advent of floodlit cricket with his (Thin) White Duke Ball person” followed by “‘The Catch That Fell to Earth’, ‘Merry Christmas, Sid Lawrence’”, though Robin Hazlehurst is challenging hard with ‘Let’s Glance’ (“Put on your white pads and glance to leg”). Haven’t any of you got work to be doing?
Someone who’s doing it on the sly, and asks to remain anonymous, wins though with this:
VVS Laxman
Waiting to bat five
Scored 281 versus Aussie
And it blew all our minds
VVS Laxman
Poor runner, doesn’t dive
Never played at the World Cup
And it’s quite hard to reason why
36th over: South Africa 101-1 (Elgar 36, Amla 35)
Elgar works Stokes away in front of square on the onside for a single before Amla takes South Africa to three figures with a nudge off the gloves towards fine leg for two. A single on the legside follows.
Fusing both Proper Cricket talk and Bowie blether, Luke Williams says of the last DRS review: “Presumably the umpires have both Sound and Vision available on review…” On the subject of which, Mick Collins thunders: “Can someone please explain to me how that was not out. The review showed the ball hitting the stumps, clearly contradicting the umpire’s decision. What other evidence was required to get the dismissal?” The trouble is the replay did not show the greater part of the ball hitting the stumps, which under the rules means the decision stays with the on-field umpire. (Which John Starbuck clarifies)
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35th over: South Africa 97-1 (Elgar 35, Amla 32)
Anderson continues to test Elgar with probing variations in length, prompting a mistimed pull that loops up and lands harmlessly in no-mans land and brings a single. Amla is then beaten outside off by an outswinger and almost chops the final delivery of the over onto the stumps. It’s close, but (still) not enough.
‘Rebel, Rebel (tours)’ suggest Gav Squires and Tom Janes, while 94 others proffer the obvious Ashes to Ashes, though I do like Otter Lee’s “there’s no third man waiting on the rope”
34th over: South Africa 96-1 (Elgar 34, Amla 32)
Review! Stokes fancies an lbw against Amla here, turned down by the umpire … and it’s not out. The batsman is reprieved by the umpires call, as the replay shows it clipping the top of middle. Stokes has the hump, understandably, which can only intensify as Amla inside-edges the subsequent ball and it zips past Bairstow’s left for four more. Another great ball nonetheless yields runs as Amla digs out an inswinging yorker and sends it past mid-off for another two. As overs conceding six runs goes, that was one of the best.
Not such an oddity, in this series
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33rd over: South Africa 90-1 (Elgar 34, Amla 26)
There’s some encouragement for England here, with some playing and missing amid the decent run-scoring shots. Anderson pushes one across Elgar and beats him with the movement off the seam. Bairstow then amuses himself with an appeal for a caught-behind after Elgar hooks and misses at a short straight delivery. A really good over.
“Cooks, surely” ventures Billy Mills as a possible Bowie-cricket song. Keep ‘em coming. We believe in you…
32nd over: South Africa 90-1 (Elgar 34, Amla 26)
Amla swivels and pulls at Stokes and hoiks it for four. The fielder at deep square leg, Finn, appears unsighted and late on it and can’t get to it before it bounces into the crowd. Stokes’s follow-up is a beauty, a tempting full delivery just outside off-stump that moves a fraction and beats Amla.
Another conversational diversion is duly signposted by Gary Naylor:
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31st over: South Africa 86-1 (Elgar 34, Amla 22)
This is shaping up to be a high-class contest between Anderson and Amla, who having been beaten by some away movement first up responds with a sumptous back-foot drive through point for four. A whipped single to deep midwicket follows.
“I’m passing a not particularly thrilling day at work trying to think of the songs David Bowie would have put on his concept album about cricket,” writes Jonathan Perry. “So far I’ve only come up with ‘Cover Drive-in Saturday’, ‘Chinaman Girl’ and ‘John, I’m only dancing down the wicket’, but I’m sure OBO readers can do better.” Wham, bam, thankyou man – that’s this afternoon’s diversionary topic sorted. Can’t think of any at the moment – my brain hurts a lot.
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30th over: South Africa 81-1 (Elgar 34, Amla 17)
Stokes sends a lovely shortish outswinger across Elgar’s defences, beating him all ends up – as good a ball as has been bowled so far today (certainly better than the one that actually got a wicket). It’s the pick of a fine, accurate maiden.
29th over: South Africa 81-1 (Elgar 34, Amla 17)
Anderson is brought back into the attack and finds a smidgeon of away movement against Elgar, who edges low through the slips for four, such is life. A firmer drive from a similar delivery brings a single, which could have been more but for a smart sprawling stop at backward point. Anderson then finds some decent late inswing at Amla, who plays out the over.
28th over: South Africa 76-1 (Elgar 29, Amla 17)
Stokes is tossed the ball first up after lunch, aiming to slant it across the left-handed Elgar, but when he strays a bit too close to his pads the batsman helps himself to an easily-flicked single down to deep square leg. Amla continues to look comfortable, driving neatly for two. Having offered too drivable a length, Stokes then makes Amla duck under a bouncer, and concludes the over with a very ambitious lbw appeal after slanting a decent delivery into Amla that raps him on the top of the pad but was going high and wide down the legside.
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From a purist cricketing perspective, this possible news disappoints:
Anyway, the players are making their way back out.
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Leisurely lunchtime email: “Apologies if it wasn’t actually you curating it, but at some point in the last Test conversation turned to various mid-level 1990s indie bands,” writes Ed Taylor, correctly remember that it indeed was I that mined that not particularly rich conversational seam. “I heard on the radio earlier that Sonia from Echobelly, who featured heavily in said discussion, will be on 6Music this afternoon. This makes me worried they’re making a comeback. I’m not sure I’m comfortable with Guardian Sport influencing popular culture, but it’s probably better it’s the OBO doing it, and not the Fiver.” We don’t know our own critical strength here at OBO towers – we can make or break anyone.
News: Here’s the latest from Ali Martin on the emerging match-fixing case, and the revelation that Gulam Bodi has been named as the former South Africa player under investigation:
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Morning/afternoon everyone. Tom here, stepping in for the first hour after lunch (and the evening session). Not really happened for England so far has it? And with all the talk of how a first-innings score of 350+ is a rare and valued thing at the Wanderers, the tourists have their work cut out here. They also have a severely groggy Stuart Broad to concern themselves with, the pace bowler the latest to be bothered by that bug going around. There’s an assured innings-building touch already to Hashim Amla’s batting too, but who knows? If Ben Stokes’s midas touch and ability to take wickets with indifferent balls resurfaces, and Steven Finn keeps it up, England could yet seize the initiative.
LUNCH
27th over: South Africa 73-1 (Elgar 28, Amla 11)
Finn, who has been the pick of the bowlers so far, is still getting the ball down at a fair place. Considering he was recovering from injury coming into the series, he’s done well to maintain this intensity into the third Test. Finishes the over with a gorgeous away swinger that Amla nibbles at. Just past his outside edge though. And that is lunch. England have been neither here nor there with their lengths but credit to South Africa, particularly Elgar, for getting through the session relatively unscathed.
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26th over: South Africa 72-1 (Elgar 27, Amla 15)
One of those innocuous short balls from Stokes sits up nicely, puts a hand of Amla’s shoulder and utters “hit me”. Amla obliges through midwicket, adding his own wristy flourish to keep it down and in front of square. Four from the over.
25th over: South Africa 68-1 (Elgar 27, Amla 11)
Elgar more willing to put bat on ball outside off stump and, with that in mind, Cook has decided to bring Taylor in from mid on and place him, basically, in a catching position in front of the nonstriker. Finn, accordingly, is maintaining a line on or just outside off stump. Also, it seems that Stuart Broad might be suffering from this stomach bug that has been doing the rounds in the dressing room. Might explain why he has been a bit off this morning. Biltong Belly?
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24th over: South Africa 68-1 (Elgar 27, Amla 11)
Quality start from Stokes, who gets one to nip off the straight, away from Amla, which has the number three feeling outside off stump. Amla gets his next ball, though, with a fierce square drive for four.
23rd over: South Africa 64-1 (Elgar 27, Amla 7)
Elgar observes a helicopter fly over him with the relaxed demeanour of an army general who’s just overseen a mission accomplished. For the over at least, he has played things perfectly. Finn started the over well but a bit of width and Elgar forces the ball through cover for four. In true long form fashion, he follows it up with a single.
22nd over: South Africa 58-1 (Elgar 22, Amla 6)
Stokes’ shorter balls are lacking a bit of venom. Usually they’re the type that follow batsmen, making them hard to sway and forcing batsmen to offer a glove at least. Today they’re a bit loopy. Still, he’s trying to force them through and Amla leaves them well alone.
21st over: South Africa 57-1 (Elgar 21, Amla 6)
Hmmmmmmm that is delightful – Amla starts the over with the crispest of crisp cover drives. Broad puts a bit more on the next five, but is unable to shape one away from Amla. Anything in the channel seems to be gun-barrel straight.
Afrikaans newspaper reveals Gulam Bodi as former SA player under investigation for fixing in Ram Slam T20 https://t.co/3AV7tDCwWU
— Ali Martin (@Cricket_Ali) January 14, 2016
20th over: South Africa 53-1 (Elgar 21, Amla 1)
Elgar, who pinched the strike at the end of the last over, brings Amla back on strike with a single behind square on the legside. Stokes will prefer this, what with Amla new to the crease but also because he’s shaping the ball late into the right-hander. Unfortunately he can’t really make it count as one goes too much and a leg bye allows Amla to get off strike immediately.
19th over: South Africa 51-1 (Elgar 20, Amla 2)
Oh Elgar, where have you kept that?! Short from Broad – actually, not even *that* short – but Deano rears back and flays Broad emphatically through midwicket for four! Broad doesn’t make the same mistake again and the rest of the over is full.
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18th over: South Africa 46-1 (Elgar 15, Amla 2)
Ben Stokes looks unbelievably stiff. His first delivery his short and oh so wide. His second is fuller but a bit floaty. The third is another tame short ball which is straighter and, somehow, takes a wicket! Rubbish from van Zyl, who jabs rather pathetically to undo his good work up to that point. Hashim Amla, weight off his shoulders and all, comes to the crease.
There was a bit of speculation as to how Quinton de Kock injured his knee. According to Ashwell Prince, he slipped while walking his dog. I’m not sure where that ranks on the scale of domestic sporting injuries: somewhere between Rio Ferdinand stretching on his couch and Santiago Canizares dropping a bottle of aftershave on his foot. I once badly bruised my toe after kicking my bathroom door. Haven’t played an international sport since.
WICKET! van Zyl c Bairstow b Stokes 21 (England 44-1)
The breakthrough and what an odd one it was – Stokes bowls a bouncer that loses pace off the pitch. Stiaan van Zyl doesn’t commit and just tries to dab it into the legside. The ball loops up off his top edge for a simple catch to Bairstow.
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17th over: South Africa 44-0 (Elgar 15, van Zyl 21)
The over starts with an LBW appeal: Broad is full, Elgar is tentative and on his heels, allowing the ball to clatter into his pads. Rod Tucker says no and, on impact, it was obvious why: the ball pitching outside leg stump with Broad over the wicket. He’s getting a bit more movement from that fuller length and, after a couple of deliveries, Elgar alerts van Zyl that the odd one is pitching and seaming away. Elgar’s stung on the back leg before the over finishes. Much better from Broad.
Broad still sometimes forgets it's not just his hair that can produce great bounce from a fuller length. #SAvENG
— Pavilion Opinions (@pavilionopinion) January 14, 2016
16th over: South Africa 44-0 (Elgar 15, van Zyl 21)
Drinks are taken and South Africa begin the second-half of this session with another four to third man. It looked a genuine edge given it wasn’t that well controlled from van Zyl and spent a bit of time in the air. There’s a miscued drive, too, which squirts into the legside off the inside edge, as van Zyl tried to follow the path of the ball and push it into the offside.
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15th over: South Africa 40-0 (Elgar 15, van Zyl 17)
Stuart Broad, given just three overs at the start of the innings, returns to the attack from the other end. He’s over the wicket and starts with a rank short ball down the legside. Elgar tries and fails to help it around the corner because it’s too wide and Broad asks for a caught behind. Nope. Second ball, he’s guided through third man for four. Cook, for some reason, had a third fielder in front of the bat on the offside and now opts to take him back out and put someone in at fourth slip. Everything feels a bit unsettled, to be honest.
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14th over: South Africa 34-0 (Elgar 9, van Zyl 17)
Brilliant from Finn – who beats Elgar again. Bit of swing, too, away from the left-hander, who has to follow it. That one was clocked at 85mph. The third ball is similar, albeit shorter in length and bouncing through to Bairstow accordingly. Elgar does the sensible thing and drops the ball into the offside and scampers through for only the second single of the morning. A fine over finishes with a blemish, as van Zyl clips Finn through midwicket for four.
Nice tribute to #Bowie from @billbarmytrump as 'Life on Mars' echoes round the Wanderers.
— Henry Moeran (@henrymoeranBBC) January 14, 2016
13th over: South Africa 29-0 (Elgar 8, van Zyl 13)
Ali, over the wicket, starts on the money, bringing van Zyl forward and forcing him to bring his bat in front of his pad, on middle and leg. A shorter delivery and a misfield from Ben Stokes allow two to point. Stiaan’s happy to drive when Ali is dropping the ball on off stump but cannot beat the cover and extra cover fielders.
12th over: South Africa 27-0 (Elgar 8, van Zyl 11)
Cracking delivery from Finn has Elgar on his toes, attempting to defending himself rather than his stumps, and is beaten on the outside edge. Finn’s trying to invite a front foot edge, too, but finishes a bit too wide and allows Elgar to leave alone. Spin at the other end, with Moeen Ali coming into the attack.
Staying in the Southern Hemisphere, the Melbourne Stars are taking on the Brisbane Heat. in the Big Bash.
Chris Lynn has come and gone for 56 off 24 balls, which including hitting Ben Hilfenhaus for five consecutive sixes in an over! Follow it live, here.
11th over: South Africa 27-0 (Elgar 8, van Zyl 11)
Ah, there we are – Anderson, around the wicket now, gets one to pop off the shoulder of van Zyl’s bat. The ball loops up towards Nick Compton at point, but bounces a yard short of him. Encouraging and a maiden.
10th over: South Africa 27-0 (Elgar 8, van Zyl 11)
Is it too early to fear for England? Probably. Little to alar batsmen in the first 10 overs. Another short-arm pull from Elgar and another two to his score.
Dane Vilas has arrived at the ground. The collapse can commence ......
— stuart hess (@shockerhess) January 14, 2016
9th over: South Africa 25-0 (Elgar 6, van Zyl 11)
No change at the other end, as Anderson continues. Stiaan van Zyl is happy in his shell and just waiting for an error from the bowler. There aren’t any, but he still manages six from the last two balls, opening his hands to guide two to third man and then getting four leg byes and Anderson searches for his stumps.
8th over: South Africa 19-0 (Elgar 6, van Zyl 9)
Good move from Alastair Cook – an early bowling change sees Steven Finn replace Stuart Broad from the Golf Course end. The first ball is full and straight and van Zyl works it to midwicket for one. Ball of the morning next: Finn bowls a length which Elgar thinks he can go forward to but, being Finn, the ball bounds big off the pitch and beats him on the outside edge, with Bairstow taking the ball at shoulder height. Elgar finishes well, driving firmly back to Finn, who drops to his knees to palm the ball away to save a boundary. File that under “good cricket”.
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7th over: South Africa 18-0 (Elgar 6, van Zyl 8)
Elgar pulls behind square leg for two - not with much force, mind. “’Bit of bounce, touch of swing’ – is that the bowling or the band?” asks Luke Williams. Not so much the bowling anymore. Anderson and Broad haven’t quite got it right.
6th over: South Africa 16-0 (Elgar 4, van Zyl 8)
Lovely from van Zyl – a short-arm pull makes its way through midwicket for four. We’ve seen glimpses of his soothing stroke play, but little to suggest that he’s a battler. But he’s leaving well and defending solidly, even if he did seem to square himself up a tad when keeping out the penultimate ball of the over.
Also, divots?!
Good toss to win for @OfficialCSA ! Divets in pitch from softer top on Day 1 will play big role on Day 4/5! #SAvsENG #SSCricket
— Dave Nosworthy (@DONCRICKET) January 14, 2016
5th over: South Africa 12-0 (Elgar 4, van Zyl 4)
Elgar checks a drive to get two through cover. Nicely placed. The next five balls are dots, but not particularly threatening. One barrels down the legside, as Anderson gives himself a little word. The lengths are spot on, though.
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4th over: South Africa 10-0 (Elgar 2, van Zyl 4)
Should have mentioned it in the second over, but Broad is around the wicket to van Zyl (presumably he’ll stay there for Elgar, too). The first four of the match goes to van Zyl – something he’ll remember for a long time. Seriously, he might – he’s not looked totally comfortable and, off the back of scores of 0, 33 and 4, he finds the timing to drive superbly inside mid off to get off the mark.
3rd over: South Africa 6-0 (Elgar 2, van Zyl 0)
“That’s a play-leave,” coos Shaun Pollock, as Elgar follows the ball down the offside, pulls his bat back but doesn’t do so quick enough to avoid guiding the ball down into the slips. Four leg byes from the over, as Anderson drifts onto Elgar’s thigh guard and Jonny Bairstow is beaten at the far post.
2nd over: South Africa 2-0 (Elgar 2, van Zyl 0)
Stuart Broad at the other end and his first ball is at the throat of van Zyl, who takes his top hand, and his eyes, away from the ball, which hits the hand remaining on the bat and plinks in the air. James Taylor at short leg is twitching. Good first over from Broad. Maiden.
A quick good morning to our first emailers: John Starbuck is wondering how ready England will be and asks me for a “Lurgy Report”. Compton has overcome his bug, Hales is still nursing a sore throat and I’ve got the sniffles. Joseph Kenrick likes my verbalising of “Adelaide” and asks what other grounds and venues we could verbalise. He offers “ to Cape Town”, after Ben Stokes’ callous double hundred. Michael Tilley thinks England are “bathing in a hot tub of momentum”. Rob Wilson has offered to send the boys round after my security issues.
1st over: South Africa 2-0 (Elgar 2, van Zyl 0)
Dean Elgar and Stiaan van Zyl are your openers, as they have been for the first two Tests. James Anderson in and sending the ball across Elgar, just as the Wanderers band starts up. They’re not as annoying as your standard collection of instruments at a sporting event. Locals and tourists are actually quite fond of them. Elgar gets two, low through the slips. Bit of bounce, touch of swing.
@Vitu_E South Africa bat first as one of their team hasn't turned up yet. Very village.
— Tom Ireland (@Tom_J_Ireland) January 14, 2016
Apologies for the delay in getting to you: I was held in Guardian limbo by some security guards who thought I wasn’t who I said I was. Must be the eyes.
As you’ve probably already heard, South Africa have won the toss and elected to bat.
TEAMS
South Africa: D Elgar, S van Zyl, HM Amla, AB de Villiers*, F du Plessis, T Bavuma, DJ Vilas†, CH Morris, K Rabada, GC Viljoen, M Morkel
England: AN Cook*, AD Hales, NRD Compton, JE Root, JWA Taylor, BA Stokes, JM Bairstow†, MM Ali, SCJ Broad, JM Anderson, ST Finn
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Morning, morning - Vish here with you to start you off on your third Test journey: it’s set to be a stormy ride - no metaphors, here - with weather expected to have a hand in the outcome of this match at The Wanderers.
Despite England’s best efforts to Adelaide the final day of the previous Test, they come into this match 1-0 up in the series. But South Africa’s performance in days four and five of that encounter mean they have that most precious of nonentities - momentum. Oh, momentum: giver of blood sugar, sweet relief.
That was lost almost immediately when Hashim Amla stepped down from the captaincy and Sourh Africa managed to replace him - for the series, at least - with someone even more reluctant in AB de Villiers.
And what little momentum they managed to forage in the week between the second and third Test has already dissolved into a puddle like a raccoon’s candy floss.
After Dale Steyn was ruled out yesterday, Quentin de Kock has been ruled out this morning after falling awkwardly and injuring his knee at home last night. His replacement is fellow wicketkeeper Dane Vilas, who is currently catching a flight from Port Elizabeth. He’ll be late for the start and de Villiers will start behind the stumps if South Africa bowl first.
England are dripping with momentum.
Hello. Vithushan will be along shortly for the third Test, which sees AB de Villiers take over the captaincy from Hashim Amla – but De Villiers is not yet willing to commit to leading the side beyond the final two Tests of this series. Here’s what the new skipper has had to say:
In the last two or three years I’ve been searching for the right answers to play a little bit less cricket in one way or another to keep myself fresh and to keep enjoying the game. I’ve found myself on the pitch in the past few years, every now and then, not enjoying myself as much as I should be and that raises concerns within myself. I’ve been searching for answers and speaking to a few people and that has leaked a little bit.”
I’m still very committed. To the job [of captaincy] I’m not sure, obviously the two Test matches for now is all I’m focusing on, and there is a nice six month break before we play Test match cricket again.
Lots of things can happen before then and I don’t want to commit myself too much to everything before then, but for now I’m as committed as I can be and I’m very hungry to make a success of the next two Test matches.
You can read Ali Martin’s full report here.
