Third Test: England v South Africa, The Oval, July 27-31

[Durhamfootman]

England captains are captains in name only, these days

[Arthur Crabtree]

R.Jones to debut in place of the injured Wood.

[KipperJohn]

R.Jones to debut in place of the injured Wood.

According to the BBC News subtitles Root said 'he bowls inconsistent areas'

[sussexpob]

R.Jones to debut in place of the injured Wood.

According to the BBC News subtitles Root said 'he bowls inconsistent areas'

[Durhamfootman]

obviously the BBC think he'll fit in well in a side who only aim to hit the stumps 5% of the time

[Arthur Crabtree]

Big CC wicket taker gets belated Test opportunity.

I'm thinking Martin Saggers, Jonathan Lewis, Ed Giddins and Simon Brown.

Or being positive, Martin Bicknell, Ryan Sidebottom, Chris Tremlett and Graham Onions

[KipperJohn]

Big CC wicket taker gets belated Test opportunity.

I'm thinking Martin Saggers, Jonathan Lewis, Ed Giddins and Simon Brown.

Or being positive, Martin Bicknell, Ryan Sidebottom, Chris Tremlett and Graham Onions

Derek Shackleton, Ken Higgs or Tom Cartwright.

[sussexpob]

Roland Jones fully deserves his chance, let's see what he does

[backfootpunch]

If only Rashid could bowl like this with a red ball

[backfootpunch]

Big CC wicket taker gets belated Test opportunity.

I'm thinking Martin Saggers, Jonathan Lewis, Ed Giddins and Simon Brown.

Or being positive, Martin Bicknell, Ryan Sidebottom, Chris Tremlett and Graham Onions

I'd take a Ryan Sidebottom

[bigfluffylemon]

Big CC wicket taker gets belated Test opportunity.

I'm thinking Martin Saggers, Jonathan Lewis, Ed Giddins and Simon Brown.

Or being positive, Martin Bicknell, Ryan Sidebottom, Chris Tremlett and Graham Onions

Or Graeme Swann?

A decision on Dawson v Malan is being left until the last minute, as England want to inspect the pitch. As if that's going to make any damn difference - if the toss is anything to go by, captains are pretty hopeless at reading the pitch anyway. I reckon Dawson will stay (much as I'd wish otherwise), and they're just trying to find a reason to include him that doesn't look moronic.

Time to see if the England rollercoaster will continue and they can step up their game again, or if South Africa are going to stay on top.

[alfie]

You'd think if inspecting the pitch is to be decisive they'd have left themselves the option of going with three seamers and two spinners...but it seems to have been implied that TRJ will play. On that basis , BFL's theory that it is just window dressing and Dawson is a lock (Pity he isn't a Lock*) may be correct.

Then again they may surprise us with a sensible move for a change.

Whatever the final lineup it is to be hoped they have tightened up their game against pace bowling as the addition of Rabada isn't going to make batting against SA any easier.

* A Laker would be handy , too

[Arthur Crabtree]

England v SA last time they played at the Oval must be a decent shout for England's worst Test ever.

Coincidentally, not the last game of the summer, same as this time.

[bigfluffylemon]

England v SA last time they played at the Oval must be a decent shout for England's worst Test ever.

Coincidentally, not the last game of the summer, same as this time.

Geez, that's a thread all of its own, AC. And it's a tough category - there have been some absolute stinkers throughout history.

Given England scored 385 in the first innings, Oval 2012 is probably not quite the worst ever test, but right up there for worst ever bowling performance.

This one was pretty horrendous:
http://www.espncricinfo.com/series/1717 ... land-1976/

The whole 2013 Ashes tour was pretty vile, hard to pick a winner. Melbourne's a contender because England actually managed to throw away what should have been a winning position, but I think the winner is
http://www.espncricinfo.com/series/1189 ... a-2013-14/

For me, I think 2006 at Adelaide might be the worst ever. From 550 in the first innings to defeat just beggared belief. I can still remember the awful sinking feeling of turning on TMS at about 6am on day 5 and instead of hearing England closing out a comfortable draw (they were 100 runs ahead for one wicket at close of day 4 on a flat deck) I heard Ponting and Hussey flaying England's bowlers for 5 an over for England to lose what should have been an unlose-able test. I don't think I will ever be as depressed about an England cricket performance as I was then.

[sussexpob]

Watching England bowl that innings didnt get any more depressing as a fan.

South Africa could have scored a 1000 runs had they had time. Possibly way over. England looked incapable and gave up.