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

[rich1uk]

and thats his 50

52 from just 40 deliveries

[rich1uk]

8 tests in a row he has made at least a 50

[Aidan11]

Root is just on another level.

Great batsman.

[alfie]

Root is just on another level.

Great batsman.

He is indeed a fine player - and in a rich vein of form. Needs to make this into a big one now for his team's sake. First forty minutes after lunch with Philander and Morkel back will be crucial.

[DiligentDefence]

Some poor bowling from the second string seamers. Is the sun due to come out this afternoon?

[rich1uk]

Some poor bowling from the second string seamers. Is the sun due to come out this afternoon?

not according to the forecast, meant to be alot lower chance of rain this afternoon, think we were lucky to miss it this morning, but gonna be gloomy all day i think

[Aidan11]

There goes Ballance.

[rich1uk]

bit unlucky for Ballance, big inside edge onto his pads that squeezes thru onto the stumps

[alfie]

Instant success for Philander after lunch...

Ballance again fails to capitalize on a start

[sussexpob]

Thought it was still lunch and they were showing tests from recent times, because I think I just seen a leaden footed man trapped on the crease

[alfie]

Philander , like Anderson , loves these conditions...making the ball talk. Think there has been appreciably more movement today than on day one ; and the pitch appears to be a little quicker - which makes a difference.

England will do well to get through this period without even more serious damage - the extra batsman some of us wanted looks even more desirable now , eh ?

[rich1uk]

Thought it was still lunch and they were showing tests from recent times, because I think I just seen a leaden footed man trapped on the crease

you must be watching different footage to me

i saw a guy pushing forward to a ball that nipped back in on him and took an inside edge that ricocheted off his pads onto the stumps

his back foot was on the crease and he had basically a full stride in

edit : its almost as if people are trying to reverse engineer his dismissals to fit their preconceptions of his previous technical issues rather than see what really happened

[Making_Splinters]

Bairstow seems a bit too keen to attack, especially with the ball doing a bit. As for Ballance, I am unconvinced that he has the technique to survive at this level, since bowlers have worked out to bowl a bit fuller to him, he doesn't look comfortable.

It's a tough one, domestic form surely has to matter, but he doesn't seem to have worked on the issues in his game, he's good enough not to need to at LVCc level.

[alfie]

Bairstow seems a bit too keen to attack, especially with the ball doing a bit. As for Ballance, I am unconvinced that he has the technique to survive at this level, since bowlers have worked out to bowl a bit fuller to him, he doesn't look comfortable.

It's a tough one, domestic form surely has to matter, but he doesn't seem to have worked on the issues in his game, he's good enough not to need to at LVCc level.

In fairness to Ballance , batting today has been tough for anyone against this strong pair of bowlers ...but it is true that he has a hugely inferior record against top quality pace attacks compared with his plundering of county bowling ; and indeed Asian Test attacks more slanted towards spin. Hope he can prove me wrong but I am not sure he is going to ever quite come to terms with the step up required.
I think someone suggested the other day that it may be he is still the "best of a bad lot" in terms of candidates for the number three spot : if he really is I fear for the Ashes trip...

[alfie]

Root playing really well - not missing out on scoring chances either. Has won a mini victory here in seeing off one of these bowlers as Olivier comes back into the attack...