First Test: England v South Africa, Lord's, July 6-10.

[bigfluffylemon]

Morning all. Ready to see if England can finally beat South Africa at home? They haven't won at Lord's v South Africa since readmission.

Both sides have a share of unfamiliar faces or players whose records are patchy, so it's time for someone to make a name for themselves.

[rich1uk]

looks a cracking day at lords

not seen it yet but meant to be a bit of grass on the pitch

i always think the first couple of sessions at lords is the best time to take wickets but it it is a big risk as if you dont get that breakthrough it gets flat quick

[rich1uk]

Root gets his captaincy off to a good start by winning the toss, decides to bat first

thought he would have had a shave for his first test as captain, looks a bit scruffy

[rich1uk]

Ballance at #3 and Dawson does play

[mikesiva]

South Africa Team
HG Kuhn, D Elgar*, HM Amla, JP Duminy, T Bavuma, TB de Bruyn, Q de Kock†, VD Philander, KA Maharaj, K Rabada, M Morkel

Kuhn opens, as expected, and de Bruyn comes into the middle order, as expected....

[bigfluffylemon]

Good call to bat first, you have to show confidence in your batting line-up. Get through the first session and a half, and it's pretty good to bat on. In fact Lord's heavily favours batting first. Since 2005, in 25 matches played there, the team batting first has won 14 times, with 9 draws. Only 2005 (Bangladesh) and 2012 (West Indies), two pretty weak teams, have managed to lose there batting first.

Of course there's always the risk of early movement and wickets, but that can happen anywhere.

[rich1uk]

Good call to bat first, you have to show confidence in your batting line-up. Get through the first session and a half, and it's pretty good to bat on. In fact Lord's heavily favours batting first. Since 2005, in 25 matches played there, the team batting first has won 14 times, with 9 draws. Only 2005 (Bangladesh) and 2012 (West Indies), two pretty weak teams, have managed to lose there batting first.

Of course there's always the risk of early movement and wickets, but that can happen anywhere.

i know it can but Lords tends to get remarkably flat for days 2,3 and 4 so just think the best time to bowl is early on day one

i admit its a huge risk tho and not one any captain would take especially with no cloud cover

[backfootpunch]

Pretty awful shot from cook

Had to leave that

[backfootpunch]

Can balance silence the doubters

Of which there are many

[rich1uk]

big moment for Ballance having to come in very early

[Arthur Crabtree]

At Lord's on the first day of the Test summer, will England start the series with a traditional collapse?

Yes, bowling first seems an opportunity at Lord's, though bfl's stats suggest that chance is illusory.

[Arthur Crabtree]

So confident was I that Cook would concert his county form into big international runs that I have him in my FL for the first time in a long time.

[rich1uk]

definitely a delivery you would have expected Cook to leave, early in his innings he does sometimes look as if he likes getting bat on ball tho and plays at stuff he wouldn't once he is set

[backfootpunch]

So confident was I that Cook would concert his county form into big international runs that I have him in my FL for the first time in a long time.

So this was your fault basically

[backfootpunch]

I thought that pitched outside leg

Be interesting to see Hawkeye