Gangster Octopus wrote:

QUOTE:
What is it with Vaughan and losing the toss?

It's not just Vaughan. Hussain probably managed to win abot twice in his tenure as captain as well.

Boycott's on fire this morning, isn't he?

Not literally, I hope, Though I'd not cry if he was.

S.A. bowled much to short, and a little wide in the first session. I think they are potentially victims of their own hype.

Eggchaser wrote:

QUOTE:
Gangster Octopus wrote:

QUOTE:
What is it with Vaughan and losing the toss?

It's not just Vaughan. Hussain probably managed to win abot twice in his tenure as captain as well.

Come on folks, nearly two whole hours have passed and no-one has made a useless tossers joke, sometimes I despair, it would never have happened in the days of the old board...

Afternoon everyone. After a steady ton opening partnership, England have just lost three quickly and almost a fourth. KP, clearly forgetting which team he plays for, set off for a crazy single and was a metre short when Ntini's throw narrowly missed.

Still tipping the draw though.

Classic England - either collapse at the start and then have to fight back, or start well then collapse. I was hoping for a Cook ton - he needs some big scores to settle down.

Vaughan seems to be slipping away as a batsman (he's gone as a fielder already).

The BBC described KP's almost suicidal run as "The typical KP Red Bull Single"

KP? Nuts!

Vaughan has always struggled against really quick bowlers.

But if England can be (say) 250-4 at the close after being put in, that's not a bad result.

SA's bowlers have been a bit disappointing so far, and Smith didn't know which ends to use them from in the first session at all.

Still might end up a draw though - there hasn't been a result at Lord's since 2005 (I can't think of any other Test ground that's had such a long run of draws recently) - but I quite fancy popping along on Monday.

Re this quandry:

QUOTE:
Should they replace Ambrose with a weaker keeper who can bat at six (Prior)

Invisible unperson James Foster's a better keeper who could, perhaps, bat at six.

Foster supports MK Dons. I don't know if this is related to his sporadic England appearances.

If Essex could actually get promoted so Foster's ability could be tested against decent teams then he'd stand a better chance.

Averaging 40 against Leicestershire and Glamorgan isn't really sufficient.

Lords's groundsman says that had anyone asked him he would have advised them to bat first. Obviously Smith didn't.

How long's Bell been in his forties?

Too long.

Bell has a tendency to become becalmed. Currently 58 off of 120. He's so determined to turn this start into a big score that he's become over-cautious.

South African's are starting to look ragged in the field, you have to wonder about their match fitness. Some of them are looking a little porky.

'Course, being in England rather than Holland, I can't see that...