1st Test: England v South Africa at The Oval Jul 19-23, 2012

[Hallatia]

Teams are as follows

England
Andrew Strauss (captain), Alastair Cook, Jonathan Trott, Kevin Pietersen, Ian Bell, Ravi Bopara, Matt Prior (keeper), Tim Bresnan, Graeme Swann, Stuart Broad, James Anderson

South Africa
Graeme Smith (captain), Alviro Petersen, Hashim Amla, Jacques Kallis, AB de Villiers (keeper), Jacques Rudolph, JP Duminy, Vernon Philander, Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel, Imran Tahir

 

[Hallatia]

Hooray for play and Morne given first use of the new ball

 

[Hallatia]

pitch is surprisingly dry.

A review in the first over:crazy:

 

[Horrie Is God]

Strauss gawne..

Poms 1/0..

 

[Hallatia]

Morne!!!!!

 

[AlwaysGreen]

No Finn no win.

 

[Horrie Is God]

Lol..

Thought you'd be stoked..

 

[Horrie Is God]

No Finn no win.

Haven't the Poms got a freakish record with Bresnan in the side??..

It'll be interesting to see how Philander goes against the Poms..

The conditions are usually good for swing bowlers,but will the Poms let him keep his average of 14 odd by the end of the series??..

 

[Hallatia]

I love Morne but I was a bit surprised he was given the new cherry, I love him bowling in partnership with Steyn, but that's not happening either. That said, Philander is a great opening bowler

 

[Hallatia]

Haven't the Poms got a freakish record with Bresnan in the side??..

It'll be interesting to see how Philander goes against the Poms..

The conditions are usually good for swing bowlers,but will the Poms let him keep his average of 14 odd by the end of the series??..

The Poms do have a freakish record with Bresnan in the side, but that has to be a coincidence.

Philander should have some fun, he has had experience in English conditions and he swings the ball both ways and threatens with every ball. He is a bit McGrathesque

 

[Hallatia]

Kallis into the attack

 

[Hallatia]

Tahir's on! Hope he takes some wickets

 

[Horrie Is God]

Cook & Trott were doing it easy..

Only 2 maidens in that session will be a worry for Seth Efrika..

O/T:Adam Scott is killing it in the golf..

 

[Red Bear]

Duminy is a bit of a nothing player at number 7

 

[Hallatia]

I like Duminy, he hasn't been in the best international form, but the guy can bat. He is not a bad bowler either and he is an excellent fielder

 

[Hallatia]

This partnership is getting a bit out of hand, need a breakthrough

 

[Green and Gold Machine]

Typical South Africa, 100% hype. Never delivers when it counts.

 

[Hallatia]

That deck was rock hard, it was a good toss for England to win, the 267 on day 1 doesn't bother me, only 3 in the wickets column does though. But, I have a lot of faith in Allan Donald, bowlers to come out firing this evening and hopefully do away with England before tea.

 

[Patorick]

Draw beckons.

TMS cutout very abruptly for me, that happen to anyone else?

(Yes, I woke up in the middle of the night and was listening to it on the BBC website).

 

[vvvrulz]

Typical South Africa, 100% hype. Never delivers when it counts.

Its only day 1.