England Cricket / Ed Hawkins / 14 January 2010 / Leave a Comment

England have won the toss and will bat in Johannesburg as they bid to win consecutive series in South Africa. Ed Hawkins is on hand with all the trends and tips to take us through an action-packed punting day

CLOSE 15.43 SA 29-0
Bad light has brought a halt to proceedings. South Africa's day by an absolute stretch. A 100-run partnership at some stage, as Michael Vaughan has suggested, will almost ensure a home win and a drawn series. England were blown away by Dale Steyn earlier but they put wind in his sails with some poor batting, Jonathan Trott and Kevin Pietersen the greatest culprits. South Africa [1.39], England [11.00] and the draw [5.10].

15.34 SA 23-0
Bits and bobs of movement for England. Going back to our stats (see 15.21), Graeme Smith is [4.50] for top SA bat, Ashwell Prince, Hashim Amla and Jacques Kallis (all [5.10]), AB De Villiers [5.70] and Any Other Batsman [5.00].

15.21 SA 19-0
Jo'burg South Africa top seven averages/centuries
Smith 47/1
Prince 41/0
Amla 49/1
Kallis 45/2
Ab de Villiers 20/1
JP Duminy 23/0
Boucher 25/0

15.11 SA 16-0
We're underway again. James Anderson has trapped Graeme Smith in front but could manage only a stifled appeal. In a mo we'll have a look at South Africa top fist-innings bat. Got some lovely stats for you.

15.00 SA 16-0
We're going to start again in 10 minutes. Good news. We can play for another hour

BAD LIGHT 14.41 SA 16-0
The covers are off. The Rain has stopped. But the light is the problem. Here is a forecast for the rest of the Test.
Tomorrow: Partly cloudy with thunderstorms
Saturday: Partly cloudy with thunderstorms
Sunday: Partly cloudy with threat of thunderstorms and showers.
Monday: Partly cloudy with thunder storms

RAIN 14.23 SA 16-0
Just a couple of points to pass on from the TMS team's discussion. Michael Vaughan reckons Jacques Kallis will love this wicket and a 100-run partnership wins South Africa the game.

RAIN 14.02 SA 16-0
Even worse news now. The Jo'burg Open, up the road, has been called off for the day. Thunder and lightning has put paid to that. That is on its way. England would have wanted to get out there in these conditions. South Africa perfectly happy.

RAIN 13.57 SA 16-0
The covers are off. That is the good news. It is pretty gloomy. That is the bad news. Oh, hold on. Worse news. The covers are coming back on.

RAIN 13.36 SA 16-0
As the rain comes down and the players leave the field, I've turned on Test Match Special to listen to dear old Geoffrey. "I don't think England will get out of this." He's probably right. South Africa [1.36], England [8.00] and the draw [6.40].

13.21 SA 2-0
A ray of light for England as South Africa begin their innings. the home side have been pretty woeful in their first-innings at Jo'burg down the years. These are their last five totals: 220, 226, 84, 186 and 303. They are as short as [1.40] for 275 runs or more.

13.00 Eng 180
South Africa have not lost a home Test after bowling a side out for 180 or less since 1927 (12 Tests) against England at Cape Town. Three of those matches were drawn.

WICKET 12.58 Eng 180
G Swann c Boucher b Steyn 27. South Africa [1.33], England [7.60] and the draw [8.00].

12.45 Eng 162-9
Graeme Swann and James Anderson put on 106 for the last wicket at Centurion. Half that would do for England now, who are staring defeat in the face. There has been plenty of swing, though and England will have to use it well when they bowl. Ryan Sidebottom might just turn out be a master pick.

WICKET 12.36 Eng 155-9
R SIdebottom c Boucher b Steyn 0. South Africa [1.31], England [8.00] and the draw [8.60]

12.30 Eng 149-8
Broad gone now, caught at mid on. He was trying to attack but that shot was not on. This must be gut-wrenching for the England team. They have fought so hard for three Tests to get and then maintain a lead, only to virtually hand it back to South Africa in one and a half sessions. Ryan Sidebottom, looking as ridiculous as ever with his hair spewing out from under his helmet, is the new batsman. Such has been the drama today that we haven't had time to discuss his inclusion in the side at the expense of Graham Onions.

WICKET 12.24 Eng 144-8
S Broad c Morkel b Kallis 13. South Africa [1.33], England [7.80] and the draw [7.60]

12.20 Eng 140-7
Not much substance in evidence from Matt Prior. Another soft dismissal. He gloved a hook behind. Graeme Swann and Stuart Broad are the new batsmen. England have got to get to 250 to be competitive in this Test.

WICKET 12.15 Eng 136-7
M Prior c Boucher b Steyn 14. South Africa [1.35], England [7.80] and the draw [7.60].

12.07 Eng 133-6
Brilliant piece of bowling from dale Steyn. He bowled three outswingers to Bell, the first one quite wide, the second on middle stump, which took an inside edge, and the third slightly shorter. The fourth was an inswinger, bowling him through the gate.

WICKET 12.05 Eng 133-6
I Bell b D Steyn 35. South Africa [1.45], England [6.00] and the draw [5.80].

11.55 Eng 126-5
Morne Morkel has gone off with the left foot problem that has been giving him pain throughout the series. A real boost for England because he was looking dangerous. Dale Steyn is his replacement.

11.40 Eng 123-5
I guess that answers our question at 11.28. Ryan McLaren has his first Test wicket and it could not be a more important one. At the other end, Morne Morkel is bowling a fast and furious spell, hitting Ian Bell on the thumb and then squaring him up to take the shoulder of the blade. The ball ballooned to Ashwell Prince, who almost took a brilliant catch diving to his right. Matt Prior, a dodgy starter, is the new man. South Africa turning up the heat.

WICKET 11.31 Eng 115-5 P Collingwood c JP Duminy b McLaren 47. South Africa [1.69], England [5.60] and the draw [4.10]

11.28 Eng 115-4 South Africa have whined in the build-up to this Test that they have been the better side. Jacques Kallis, in particular, was giving it 'the big one' if we allow ourselves to slip into street lingo for a moment. It is true that South Africa have played the better cricket in two of the three Tests. But they haven't played played the smarter cricket. Often that is more important. For example, in Centurion Graeme Smith dithered over a declaration, batting on too long and in Cape Town they batted too slowly. Has Smith just made another rick by not attacking England after lunch with his two best bowlers in tandem, Morne Morkel and Dale Steyn?

11.10 Eng 100-4
Back after the break. Sacha has emailed to sum up the situation pretty well. "Hopefully Parnell gets a wicket in his second spell to settle the nerves, but if Steyn and Morkel bowl their second spells anything like their first, Parnell might not be needed again and South Africa will be in before tea!" South Africa [1.83], England [5.30] and the draw [3.65].

10.33 Eng 100-4
Despite a counter attack from Paul Collingwood (44) and Ian Bell (19), England remain on the ropes. South Africa came at them hard this morning with Morne Morkel taking three wickets and they will do so again after the break. Of course it is far too early to talk about pivotal period of play but if England do not survive the first 20 minutes of the afternoon session, their hopes of a series win will look thin indeed. South Africa [1.83], England [5.40] and the draw [3.70].

10.20 Eng 91-4
England are refusing to budge in the market. They were [5.70] 40-odd wicketless runs ago but are only [5.20] now. A decent wager that given the Paul Collingwood and Ian Bell are finding things pretty good at the moment.

10.06 Eng 80-4
Jacques Kallis comes into the attack. Really, he should have partnered one of the two debutants because South Africa needed a wise old sage to keep the pressure on England. The tourists have recovered somewhat. Collingwood, nicknamed Brigadier Block for his obduracy, is Brigadier Blast here. He has 29 from 31 balls.

09.43 Eng 52-4
South Africa have paired the two debuitants, Ryan McLaren, the former Kent man, and Wayne Parnell together. Isn't this a time for experienced heads, with England under the cosh? Oh well, what do I know. McLaren is not as quick as his name would suggest (F1 reference there, folks). He took 19 wickets in his last County Championship season at 35. Not a lot to write home about. Parnell is having a poor season domestically. He has taken only seven wickets in four matches at 48.

09.25 Eng 47-4
England are furious with the decision to give Cook leg before. They say it was a no ball from Morne Morkel and it has to be said it looks mighty close. The bowler must have something behind the line. Morkel looked to be on it. The third umpire is, would you believe, Daryl Harper. Harper has had a 50% success rate with decisions in this series, a shocking record.

WICKET Eng 39-4
A Cook lbw b Morkel 21. South Africa [1.62], England [6.20] and the draw [5.40]

09.17 Eng 37-3
Time to have a look at England's top-bat market before we see another wicket. Alastair Cook is [2.00] and Paul Collingwood, a backs-to-the-wall specialist, is [3.05]. Any Other Batsman (including Ian Bell and Matt Prior) is [3.20]. The stats suggest Prior might be the man but have a look at Bell's mark in the fourth Test of a series. That doesn't inspire much confidence.

Averages in 4th Test of a series
Cook 53
Collingwood 49
Bell 13
Prior 60

09.13 Eng 34-3
England are doing their best to replicate the procession of 1999 on this ground when they found themselves 34-5. Michael Vaughan, making his debut, did something of rescue job in that game by making 33. Expectations were pretty low about England as a team back then. Kevin Pietersen's wicket was perfect timing for the hosts. They were just beginning to look a little ragged. Pietersen is having a poor series. He is averaging 27 and looks a shadow of his bullish best.

WICKET 09.06 Eng 32-3
K Pietersen c Parnell b Morkel 7. South Africa [1.64], England [4.80] and the draw [4.80]

08.56 Eng 16-2
So why have England batted first? Well, in part it is down to a mentality that they do not need to win the game. Why put themselves under pressure of needing wickets on day one when there is a possibility that the wicket could be at its best after this new ball burst? Nor do they want to worry about batting last on this surface. After twice surviving on the final day on good pitches in this series, a third escape on a bad one looked unlikely. The right call by Andrew Strauss.

08.45 Eng 8-2
England in all sorts of strife. It won't surprise you to learn that the ball is swinging. There is moisture underneath this surface and it is rather muggy in Jo'burg. And, of course, the pitch is pretty green. The surface has been the big talking point ahead of this game with South Africa needing a result wicket to try to level the series. It looks like they've got one.

WICKET 08.40 Eng 7-2
J Trott lbw b Morkel 5. South Africa [1.94], England [4.20] and the draw [3.95]

08.34 Eng 3-0
Why is it we just can't have a few moments to settle into these Tests? Strauss gone to the first ball of the match, a sensational low catch held by Hashim Amla at a wider shot leg. Strauss got hold of the clip off his legs but somehow Amla held on.

WICKET 08.30 Eng 0-0
A Strauss c Amla b Steyn 0. South Africa [2.16], England [4.00] and the draw [3.15]

08.27 England have won the toss and will bat
First blood to the tourists then. Six of the last seven Tests in Jo'burg have been won by the side who has won the toss. There are team changes. England replace Graham Onions with Ryan Sidebottom. Ryan McLaren and Wayne Parnell are in for Paul Harris and Freidel de Wet for the hosts. South Africa [2.54], England [3.70] and the draw [2.96]

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