Second Test: England v South Africa, Nottingham, July 14-18

[alfie]

Feels like the constant background commentary that Joe Root would be ruined by the captaincy has faded away. Obviously it might be that this happens, no one knows, but the everpresent foreboding that this would be the case seems to have quietened.

Was there really that much speculation about that happening though ? Obviously it is always a possibility that increased responsibility can adversely affect personal form but generally that is a factor of years in the job ... I thought most people were pretty relaxed about Root taking over , just a bit of wondering when would be the ideal time for him to do so - and that more from the point of view of settling team selection. Perhaps I missed the background hum...

Of course if he makes a pair at Trent Bridge I'm sure there will be plenty who disagree

[Arthur Crabtree]

Yes, from internet opinion. Going by cricinfo and the Guardian (just because that's where I get my public opinion) there has been heavy and emphatic posting that Root would be ruined by the captaincy. Even though stats suggest captaincy rarely has a negative effect on performance. And it was part of the there-is-no-alternative argument for keeping Cook in situ for a number of years.

[andy]

Let's give it some time... yes Incredible start for Root, but only one test...long way to go..

[KipperJohn]

Yes, from internet opinion. Going by cricinfo and the Guardian (just because that's where I get my public opinion) there has been heavy and emphatic posting that Root would be ruined by the captaincy. Even though stats suggest captaincy rarely has a negative effect on performance. And it was part of the there-is-no-alternative argument for keeping Cook in situ for a number of years.

A stinking cold (as at Lords), a bad back, being run over by a bus - all far more likely to affect his batting than being captain!

[rich1uk]

just read the interview with Cook about him being comfortable not being captain and wonder if the scheduling this year really helped in that

because of the long break between tests and him playing probably the longest spell of county cricket he has for years in that gap, where he wasn't captain, was a factor

[mikesiva]

What changes for South Africa?

This would be my eleven. ....

Elgar
Kuhn
Amla
Du Plessis
Bavuma
Duminy or de Bruyne
De Kock
Phehlukwayo or Morris
Philander
Maharaj
Morkel

Yeah I haven't made up my mind either.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Could quotas be an issue with Rabada out?

[andy]

Na it dosen't have to be every game that they fill the quota, just as long as the average evens out over a set period of time

[Arthur Crabtree]

JPD has been dropped for FDP. Olivier in for Rabada. Query over Morris coming in for de Bruyn.

England unchanged.

[bigfluffylemon]

Trent Bridge is traditionally a strong ground for England. Not quite up there with Edgbaston, Old Trafford and the Riverside, but still a ground that England have rarely lost at in recent times. In fact, we haven't lost here since 2007, when Sachin Tendulkar played one of his best knocks on English soil to inspire India to go 1-0 up and go on to take their first ever series win in England:
http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/258469.html

More often than not the team batting second takes a first innings lead, but win the toss and bowl is not necessarily a winning strategy, as batting fourth also tends to be tricky here. England have won games by winning the toss and batting first as well.

What is well known is that both Anderson and Broad have found this a happy hunting ground in the past, with both averaging under 20 here with strike rates of around 43 (although Broad's figures drop a bit if you disregard the freak 8/15, his record here remains excellent).

Given the forecast conditions, batting on days 2 and 3 might be very tricky, in which case teams may want to bat first, but with South Africa's recent batting failures, the fact that the pitch is the same as that one used in 8/15, and Anderson and Broad's records, Root might well fancy a bowl if he gets to decide.

Still, England hadn't beaten South Africa at Lord's since the 1960s, and that all changed last week. So history can be an unreliable guide.

Given the nature of the ground, and the relative strengths of both sides' bowling vs batting, I expect a low scorer here, with a big collapse losing one side or the other the game.

[rich1uk]

not sure what would be a good approach today

looks like a windy, overcast day in Nottingam

if there is much grass on the pitch it might be a good day to bowl

especially with SA looking like they have a pretty long tail, altho that depends on whether you viewed Duminy as part of the tail previously even tho he batted at #4

[Arthur Crabtree]

Feels like a swinging day.

[rich1uk]

Feels like a swinging day.

what about the cricket ?

[rich1uk]

big dark cloud in the background while they are chatting in the lead up to the game

hope thats heading away from the gorund

[Arthur Crabtree]

Yes, still partying from last night...

Some breeze might help the spinners. TB doesn't always wear very well (as last time SA were here and James Kirtley bowled SA out for 138 (after Pollock toppled England for 118)). And there have been one or two shockers. But then the following year, England chased 284-6 v NZ (with Thorpe scoring a ton and adding 122 with Geraint and Gilo). So it's unpredictable. The low risk option might be to bowl first and hope to get a decent first innings lead. But I'm expecting England to bat first, based on the weather not changing much, and SA to bowl first to gain some initiative after the defeat at Lord's.