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

[Dr Cricket]

good knock from elgar.

[ianp1970]

Boycott: "I can't see why Dawson is playing ahead of Rashid."

Hard to see why we have a batsman spinner at number 8 in the first place, unless it is going to be Moeen to allow another batsman into the top order.

[mikesiva]

good knock from elgar.

Elgar is out for a well played 80.

[Aidan11]

Two wickets.

[Dr Cricket]

looks like another poor overrate today.
crazy how they can't bowl 14-15 overs an hour now.
women world cup been good to watch at the ground or tv because of the speed the players play.

[rich1uk]

little glimmer with those 2 wickets but in reality didn't do near what would have been required in that session to give us much chance

SA effectively 290-3 at lunch

[Arthur Crabtree]

Stokes showing again how useful his fifth-bowler option is. His stats should be seen in the context of him rarely being thrown the ball in advantageous circumstances or with sympathetic fields. His 35 average is very good given the negative factors.

[Arthur Crabtree]

surprised it isn't mention by other but really the big reason England are not doing well since 2014 is the bowling, only Anderson and broad average under 35, the rest are in the wrong side of 40.

I've just looked from 2015 (when England started to come out of their post 2013-14 Ashes whitewash shock), and quite a few bowlers are averaging below 40. Stokes is at a handy 35. Woakes' numbers are nearly as good as A&B, at 26. Finn is at 33.

[Dr Cricket]

isn't woakes stats misleading because of pakistan series.
surprised about finn.
guessing the stat I saw were based on the last 2 years and not 4 years.

[rich1uk]

surprised it isn't mention by other but really the big reason England are not doing well since 2014 is the bowling, only Anderson and broad average under 35, the rest are in the wrong side of 40.

Woakes has taken 47 wickets @ 28 in the last 3 years

28 i believe is under 35 ...

the only regular bowler that is above 40 during that period is Rashid

so facts aren't really strong in that post of yours Bhav ...

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine ... pe=bowling

[Dr Cricket]

Woakes does average 60 away from home.

[rich1uk]

Woakes does average 60 away from home.

was that what your post said ?

[Dr Cricket]

Even if you include woakes, england bowling attack doesn't look that great.
only really broad is secure in the next few years in the team, the rest are either average or england are looking for better options.
only really Stokes and broad looks to be certain to be in the bowling attack in the future.
Stokes on his all roundness and broad for his bowling you could probably add Ali has a 6th bowler if he gets in the team as a batsman but certainly isn't getting in the team by his bowling.

[Dr Cricket]

surprised it isn't mention by other but really the big reason England are not doing well since 2014 is the bowling, only Anderson and broad average under 35, the rest are in the wrong side of 40.

Woakes has taken 47 wickets @ 28 in the last 3 years

28 i believe is under 35 ...

the only regular bowler that is above 40 during that period is Rashid

so facts aren't really strong in that post of yours Bhav ...

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine ... pe=bowling

I was only wrong about woakes,
Finn averages 32 which is close to 35 anyway and most of the series he been quite poor anyway so my point stands that the bowlers are struggling,
Stoke close to 35
Ali 38
Wood 39

So stats still show england reliant on Anderson and broad.

[rich1uk]

i dont think anyone is suggesting otherwise, doesn't make your initial statement any more accurate however