Agreed.

When we come to the tests they have an amazing top 6 but their bowling department isn't all that. Alot will depend on how our bowling attack preforms and how much pressure they can keep off our batters.

If our batters keep having to face upto scores of 600 law of averages say we'll crumble under the pressure at some point.

Albie Morkel our for his brother Morne and Wayne Parnell replaces Langeveld for the 3rd ODI.

Unfortunately we have lost the crucial toss and will have to bat under the lights.

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A great display from the side yesterday, Anderson was excellent and the catching was top notch.

The seamers - Wright apart - figured out where to bowl very early on in the innings and exploited the movement that was available. Thought Bresnan deserved much more reward for a very impressive spell.

One particularly alarming point ahead of the Test series is just how badly out of nick Pietersen looks. Unless he plays himself back into form it's going to put a lot of pressure on the rest of the top order and might necessitate an extra batsman being played to shore up the batting.

It is somewhat wet and cloudy in Durban at the moment.

If the game goes on, it's in the bag

Eng win the toss and choose to bowl.

SA 15-1 - Broad gets Smith for a duck!

No Steyn for SA.

Onions got Amla, 51-2.

Great start v Kallis too.

Doesnt look that bad a wicket. Something in it for the bowlers but its not doing a great deal. Somewhere in the region of 275-300 might be par.

Forget the current score. If that top 6 South Africa have out today click during the series we are in big, big trouble.

Going well so far though

SA might be thinking it was a good toss to lose.

Crucial wicket just before tea for England there...very even so far but if we can get another couple by the close then I'd say it's our day...need fatso Kallis out ASAP though.

I can't say i'm suprised England struggled to get through the South Afrian line up and I think that'll be the case all series. I just don't fancy our bowling line up to take 20 wickets. We have a totally unconsistant opening pair in Anderson and Broad and unless the ball is really nipping about they look very average.

I really hope Onions injury isn't too serious because he was by a million miles our best pace bowler today and was so unlucky only to take one wicket. After that theres Swann who's doing a very good job and bowled well but he needs more support.

This has been day one of life after Flintoff in test cricket and the early signs aren't very good as to how we'll cope without him. The balance of the side just doesn't look right.

Until we find at least 2 top-class batsmen, who can both average in the high 50's, then we are going to be hamstrung with having to play Prior at 7, and only having 4 frontline bowlers.

The only way to combat this, would be to miraculously find a wicket taking pair of the calibre of Warne/McGrath, so that a 4 man attack could be viable.

Unfortunately, at present, both look a long way off......Only the emergence of Trott, coupled with a revival in form for Pieterson, shows any hope at the moment.

375-7

Swann now has three wickets, Boucher is holding up proceedings.

Swan grabs a 4th, Boucher gone.

386-8

SA 418 ao.

Swann 5-110 Onions 3-86

Eng 3-0

England will do well to avoid defeat in this one. South Africa have got about 100 over par, and this last session will be interesting.

SA 418

Eng 25/1

Cook c Boucher b de Wet 15

106-2

Strauss gone to Ntini for 46 today.

143-3 at lunch.

Tough session for England, only 55 runs and the loss of Strauss and Trott. KP looked in better and better form as the morning went on.

Pietersen out off of a no ball, Bell out playing no shot seemingly expecting extravagant turn from Harris! Not looking great

Ian Bell



That was down there with Chris Read attempt to duck under a yorker years back against the Kiwi's!

It's the same old story with England batting line up Bell aside of doing the hard work to get in and then getting out in the 30's and 40's. They don't seem to be able concentrate for more then a couple of hours at the most.

Just seen Bell's wicket, Jesus Christ.

Hate to say I told you so!!...



Batting has been typically abysmal....England need some bad weather....quickly.