Fourth Test, SA v England. Centurion, Jan 22-26

[Arthur Crabtree]

In this situation, a couple of players down the order end up batting for three hours and you think that if the top order had hung around and not played crazy shots, the game could have been saved....

[Gingerfinch]

Funny, we beat South Africa in South Africa yet three of our top six are in danger of losing their place. Though Taylor has another chance today/tomorrow.

[Arthur Crabtree]

A life for Joe.

Seems England are always carrying a lot of batters. Only Stokes and Root, out of the top six, have had good series. Probably reasonable to claim only a couple of the bowlers have fired, Broad and Finn. And Bairstow has been a curate's egg.

[backfootpunch]

didnt even realise this was on

probably good for my health i havent been watching

ian bell must be quietly enjoying the struggles of hales and compton

he's probably heading to the edgbatson nets as we speak

[Arthur Crabtree]

No further damage done. I expect were ruling out an England win, but the draw is still on. England not good at draws these days though.

[Arthur Crabtree]

didnt even realise this was on

probably good for my health i havent been watching

ian bell must be quietly enjoying the struggles of hales and compton

he's probably heading to the edgbatson nets as we speak

Hales has had a bad series, but Compo and Taylor have produced the sort of series pretty typical of Bell in recent times. Which has meant they've had disappointing series, though I think both have attracted a little too much criticism. Compo seemed to be doing ok until Bayliss appeared to chide him for being too slow. And Taylor as erred in being perhaps a bit too positive, batting well and then getting out. Both these should start the summer, and arguably Hales too. And won't they go to Ballance (and maybe Vince before going back to Bell?

[westoelad]

didnt even realise this was on

probably good for my health i havent been watching

ian bell must be quietly enjoying the struggles of hales and compton

he's probably heading to the edgbatson nets as we speak

Hales has had a bad series, but Compo and Taylor have produced the sort of series pretty typical of Bell in recent times. Which has meant they've had disappointing series, though I think both have attracted a little too much criticism. Compo seemed to be doing ok until Bayliss appeared to chide him for being too slow. And Taylor as erred in being perhaps a bit too positive, batting well and then getting out. Both these should start the summer, and arguably Hales too. And won't they go to Ballance (and maybe Vince before going back to Bell?

Big innings from Taylor tomorrow and he cements his place in the side and he's done the the hard work this evening. Only if Hales scores profically for Notts early season can he make a case for his retention

[Arthur Crabtree]

Maybe he'll do himself some good in the ODIs. He's not really secured a place in that side yet

[KipperJohn]

As Bell himself has said, he's got a big job to do as captain of Warwickshire and will let the England situation take care of itself, one way or another.
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England have won the series, but oddly don't seem to have answered many questions, especially considering the absence of Steyn and Philander.

SA were much stronger when England drew there last time.

[Aidan11]

We'll need a lot of rain tomorrow.

[Arthur Crabtree]

SA were much stronger when England drew there last time.

England too, who were very resilient to hold on a couple of times and won strongly in Durban. Shame their rematch in England was so one sided, with Strauss team unhappy and in decline. The sides didn't meet at the peak of that England XI.

[shankycricket]

Surely Chris Woakes can't get picked as a frontline test bowler? And please don't trot out the inexperience excuse. He has played 6 Tests now, which is a decent sample size for a bowler (unlike batsmen, its not like they get only 2 chances). He just doesn't seem capable of getting wickets, you can't be unlucky all the time. Just not good enough, sorry.

[The Professor]

Woakes has had his day and we have enough tolerable bowlers in the county scene to warrant dropping him out.

Hales is 27 and doesn't look like he has the experience, patience or technique for test batting.

Compton has played immaturely as well...and for a guy on the wrong side of thirty that is no compliment.

Need to give youth a spin rather than going to this seasoned old dogs and trying to force them into test mould when they don't fit.

Better taking a punt on a younger player you can develop than a thirty year old already set in his ways.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Well, Finn and Wood can legitimately come in for Woakes. Must admit, I've been a bit disappointed in him, mainly in how he lost his line so badly. But he isn't going away yet, because he's in the LOI sides, and a good run of form there will keep him in the Test frame.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Still, look at Anderson's record in SA. It may be that Woakes can do better in different conditions.