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

[rich1uk]

that doesn't look like a good decision by the umpire in real time, but they dont ask for a review

[backfootpunch]

Outside leg and missing the stumps

Terrible from the umpire and the two batters

[rich1uk]

pitched outside leg, hit the pads outside leg and was missing the stumps

so all in all it was a horrible decision by the umpire compounded by not referring it

[budgetmeansbudget]

Oh dear.

[alfie]

:facepalm

Outside leg and missing the stumps

Terrible from the umpire and the two batters

Was a real shocker ...pretty clearly pitching outside leg even live and it just didn't look " right" ...not surprised it was missing. Suppose two "junior" batsmen were a bit shy of using up a review ?
Pity it wasn't Stuart Broad

[mikesiva]

Philander has a knack of taking wickets....

43 Tests and an average of 22!

[alfie]

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.

Your fault then , Arthur ?

The trouble with being in good county form is you come in too confident and try to play a ball you'd normally leave...was certainly one he should have ignored. Philander bowled well to him so I will give him some credit .

Ha ....I see backfoot already made that observation ...sorry to infringe copyright

[budgetmeansbudget]

Get through the first hour at Lord's on a sunny day, and runs are there for the taking.

300 odd for 3 or 4 at the close and at least one centurion!

[bigfluffylemon]

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.

Not only is the chance of bowling first illusory (average first innings runs per wicket here is over 40, second innings closer to 30 since 2005), but third innings vs fourth innings is the real kicker: 37 v 27.

Still, England are doing their best to prove me wrong. Root is in a familiar position of having to rescue a dodgy start.

[rich1uk]

just to clarify i wasn't suggesting bowling first, especially on a bright sunny day, just observing that the Lords pitch is usually fairly kind to the batsmen on days 2, 3 and 4 and with a bit of green-ness in the pitch, the best time to bowl might be the first couple of sessions

[dan08]

Ballance is still hopeless then.

[dan08]

Told Jennings not to review but then reviews that instead..

[rich1uk]

drinks break brings a wicket

Ballance wastes a review on one that is plumb after not advising Jennings to use a review on one that was missing

[Aidan11]

We wait all this time for the test series to finally get under way this summer and already we get treated to this shambles.

[mikesiva]

Good to see Morkel back and taking wickets again at the grand old age of 32....