Live Test Match Blogging / Ed Hawkins / 17 July 2008 / 1

Our top cricketing man is watching the action from Yorkshire as England do battle with South Africa...

18.30 SA 103-3 - CLOSE

18.20 SA 76-3
A bit of carnage and controversy.This time it is England and Michael Vaughan who have tried to claim a catch that wasn't. Remember AB de Villiers tried to send Andrew Strauss on his way with a dropped catch. Flintoff dug one in short to Hashim Amla who spooned a chance to Vaughan at mid off. Initially it looked as though Vaughan got his fingers underneath it so Amla walked but was told to go back by the SA dressing room. The third ump then ruled in favour of the tourists. Sympathy to those who had traded on the basis of a wicket. England had shortened to [3.00]. Cor, Amla is going to really get peppered now.

18.10 SA 72-3
Huge wicket. Jacques Kallis has played on to James Anderson. England were [6.8] before that wicket. They are now [4.00]. It was an interesting wicket because a few balls (arf!) earlier Kallis was pranged in his unmentionables. It might have made him a bit more circumspect. Ashwell Prince is in next. I quite fancy him for some runs in these conditions because streetfighting is right up his alley. I've done Smith a little bit of a disservice by saying he gloved one from Flintoff. In fact it was genuine edge.

17.58 SA 67-2
Flintoff strikes! Round the wicket to Graeme Smith, who appeared to glove a brute of a ball to the slips. Smith goes for 44 and England are fighting back

17.57 SA 66-1
Chris has emailed re the Pattinson selection. "Should he even be playing? This is what his dad has had to say about his selection: 'He's Australian, Darren. He is. It's a chance to play international cricket. In all honesty he just wanted a chance to play.' And bowling in the low 80s with 15 off his 3 overs it's no wonder he's never got near the Australian team...Maybe we should try and steal his brother who is an under-19 Aussie international?" Alarming if correct. Pattinson has bowled only three overs, by the way.

17.45 SA 57-1
Flintoff has hit Amla on the bonce already. But England would be wise not to get too obsessed with bowling short at Amla. The key is to bowl the short ball as a surprise delivery, as Michael Holding explained rather wonderfully in the Racing Post this morning. "It is like walking around a corner for the first time and seeing a ghost. It is scary the first time it happens. But if every day after that you walk round the same corner and see the same ghost, you will get accustomed to it."

17.30 SA 51-1
Neil McKenzie has gone, edging the previously perturbed James Anderson to Andrew Flintoff's bucket hands at slip. A welcome breakthrough for the hosts. Now stand by for the short ball assault on Hashim Amla. Expect Flintoff to be asked to lead it.

17.25 SA 47-0
Here's a worry for England: James Anderson's pace is down by about 5mph. That could be down to a either a lack of rhythm or an injury. But most probably it is the latter because he was a doubt for this match with a stiff back. It is just another potential tale of woe for England's bowling attack.Generally they have bowled to much stuff back of a length rather than full to give the ball its best chance of swinging.

17.04 SA 39-0
Insanity.The draw price [5.8] has come in a whole point just because of South Africa's decent start. What is wrong with you people? Of course we should be quite happy if that continues. We might have a lay on our hands by the end of the day.

16.45 SA 19-0
We've seen a couple of overs from debutant Darren Pattinson, the Nottinghamshire bowler. Having seen a bit of him before it is not surprising that he has been nothing but steady. Pattinson has a good solid action and swings it away at fast-medium. I could name about 10 other county bowlers who could do the same job. Excuse me while I go on a rant but what has Matthew Hoggard done to deserve such treatment? This is his home ground, he bends it round corners and he is a centrally contracted player. He has also been in and around the squad all summer. Instead England take a punt on a guy who has played only 11 first-class matches. Let me know your views at hawkeyeview@hotmail.co.uk

16.20 SA 0-0
The bad news for England as South Africa begin their innings is that the sun has come out. When that happens on this ground runs are usually scored. Jimmy Anderson will have the first over but it will be interesting to see whether Andrew Flintoff or Darren Pattinson share it. Surely it will be Pattinson because he has been picked to swing it.

16.10 England 203
England are all out. But if you have backed England (or laid SA), try not to fret. I reckon these are tricky batting conditions and England's bowlers will swing the ball as much, if not more, than South Africa's. It could well be case of 203 playing 280, which would not be a bad position for England to be in. Turning our attention to SA's top bat market, forget Graeme Smith, Neil McKenzie and Hashim Amla - it is too risky backing them with the ball moving. Instead look to Jacques Kallis [4.7], who has the best technique of any player on show, and the durable Ashwell Prince [7.4]. They are made for pitches like this and will love the challenge of gritting it out.

15.46 England 192-9
Our first look at Darren Pattinson, the batsman. He's in line with everything ok. His highest score in first-class cricket this season (I say this season, it's his first but more on that later) for Notts is 33, which suggests he might be a better bat than Monty

15.35 England 185-8
England are relying on Monty Panesar to score runs. I'm actually quite a fan of Monty's batting and I reckon he gets a bad press. After all, he gets behind the ball nicely - far better than someone like Matthew Hoggard ever did - and has a few strokes...hang on he's out. Nine down.

15.26 England 177-7
Good. Fred has gone. Dale Steyn has tempted him into a wild swish and he is caught behind. I'm going to blow my trumpet because no-one else will do it. Never, ever, ever allow emotion to cloiud your thoughts when betting. Flintoff has not scored runs in county cricket so it would have taken something extraordinary for him to buck that trend a class above. Here endeth the lesson.

15.15 England 176-6
I'm going to let you into a secret. I want Flintoff to fail. I've sold his runs you see. And there is nothing brave about that. The only slight negative to the trade is a box office ability to act out the script written for him. And that is no reason to ignore a bet. The cold hard facts surrounding Flintoff are that he is woefully short of form with the blade and no amount of misty-eyed memories of what he was once capable of change that. There is no place in punting for emotion, except when you are on a losing bet. Then feel free to smash the place up.

14.55 England 150-6
Wickets continue to fall. But fear not Fred fans, it is Ian Bell who has been deceived by a Kallis ball. Bowled. Ding dong, the Bell's not going to chime. Stuart Broad in now and England in trouble. Could play perfectly into the hands of Flintoff, however, who may feel more comfortable chancing his arm with the tail

14.53 England 146-5
There have been grave doubts about Andrew Flintoff's form with the bat coming into this game. He averages well under 30 in all cricket since his last Test ton (Ashes 2005, Trent Bridge) and has struggled for runs in the county sphere - averaging just 22 I think. He hasn't looked too bad so far. There was a loose shot otuside off which squirted through point early on but since then he has not been troubled. Of course it would be one of those 'inevitable' happenings - like KP at Lord's - if he scored runs here.

14.31 England 123-5
We were right to say England were nervous. Ntini has got Ambrose to nick one for 12. SA as short as [1.69]. That could be Ambrose's penultimate innings in Test cricket. Difficult not to feel sorry for the chap as he is batting way too high on a tricky pitch. And a huge roar for Andrew Flintoff as he makes his way to the wicket. And another when he survives his first ball.

14.30 England 123-4
Nervous times for England because the shuffling of their pack to get Andrew Flintoff in and bat Tim Ambrose at No. 6 could backfire. It is certainly a gamble. Ambrose's scores (most recent on right) are: 5/11/31/0/3/67/4. He averages 28 in Tests which is fine for a keeper, but not for one that bats at six. To put it in to context Adam Gilchrist batted at No 7 for Australia.

14.00 England 106-4
Steyn snares KP - an edge pouched by Smith. England's price had been plummeting as England's dangerman set about the visitors after lunch. We've seen how runs can flow if a bit of intent is shown. Big test for Ambrose and Bell now.

13.56 England 91-3
There are loads of "crucial" sessions in cricket these days. However I think it is fair to say we should have a real treat this afternoon.

England's early mindset this morning was rightly to deny the visitors a breakthrough. They had a bit of bad luck and the following wickets have made their line up look a little frail. But we've seen some boundaries in the first two overs after lunch and we can expect a really good tussle as the home side aim to seize the initiative now.

13.05 England 70-3 LUNCH
With reference to the earlier mention of 'unhealthy obsessions' TB - as sickly initials as I've ever seen - has pointed out there is nothing weird, sexual or depraved about pigeon fancying. It's bird racing or something. Apologies but life is full of confusables. Badger baiting for example. It is not finding a badger and telling him that the stripe in his hair looks rubbish, criticising him for the state of his set or indeed generally trying to bring him down. It's about something much worse. Hitting him with a stick. Really hard. I don't know, what is the world coming too? Surely it would be better just to put a flea in Mr Badger's ear.
Back to the cricket and old pal Mahavirhindustan has been in contact. "What is your prediction for this match? When should we lay the draw?"
In answer to your first question: South Africa. And that is not after-timing, folks. I tipped them in the racing Post this morning and am reasonably happy with their position so I will not be changing my mind.
As for the draw, the market has been desperate to see it favourite and as soon as it hits the [2.30] mark a lay could be the way. That is probably a 40-run partnership away.

12.55 England 62-3
Andrew Strauss has gone this time, caught at the wicket off Morkel again. He's some bowler. And it has had a decisive impact on the market. England [6], SA odds on at [1.92] and the draw [3.25]. The stalemate had been favourite before that wicket. Gosh, some people really have an unhealthy obsession with the stalemate, don't they? I don't think it would be going too far to compare it with a rubber fetish or pigeon fancying.

12.45 England 57-2
Cheat! Cheat! Cheat! All together now. AB de Villiers has tried to claim a catch at slip off Andrew Strauss when he has quite clearly grassed the ball. It went low to his right hand, popped out, hit the ground and bounced into his left hand. Unbelievably he tried to send Strauss on his way. The England opener is still there, however, after TV replays showed up de Villiers. Unsavoury

12.40 England 56-2
Pertinent that I provide you with a weather forecast for the Test. This is not something I've done myself with weather charts, monthly rainfall analysis or a general prediliction for being a weirdo but in fact I've taken it from those other weirdos at the Met Office.
Day one Heavier showers to arrive at around lunchtime
Day two Showers
Day three Cloudy. High of 18C
Day four Showers
Day five Cloudy

12.20 England 41-2
Kevin Pietersen is looking imperious. A four and six off the first four balls he faced. It is crucial KP gets runs here because England's batting looks so very fragile at two down for very little and with Tim Ambrose and Andrew Flintoff at six and seven respectively. KP is [2.74] to finish as England's top first-innings runscorer which seems fair considering the socreboard and the fact that he is going for a hat-trick of centuries at Headingley in only his third Test appearance.

12.05 England 27-1
Dale Steyn has been brought into the attack to try to remove Michael Vaughan. Last week at Lord's Steyn bowled Vaughan neck and crop. As I type, Steyn takes his wicket. Funny how often that happens isn't it? South Africa in to [1.9] now. Not bowled this time but caught at slip. That will bring Kevin Pietersen to the wicket.

12.00 England 26-1
South Africa have got lucky. Cook has been adjudged out off Morkel to a legside catch to the keeper. The replays suggest the ball has hit the thigh pad rather than the bat. No matter. I was just about to write Nasser Hussain telling us about the problems with Cook's technique. Doesn't seem much point now. There has not been much of a reaction to that wicket on the match odds market. England are [4/8],South Africa [2.58]and the draw [2.40].

11.45 England 23-0
South Africa quite like the idea of getting Cook caught at short extra cover and then at a sort of square-ish gully. Not quite point. They reckon he drives in the air through that area. All very well but isn't that a tactic which should be used when the new ball has stopped swinging? Try to get him out in conventional manner at this stage of the game, eh chaps? Get fancy later.

11.35 England 18-0
Steady start from England this. I'm not normally one for knee-jerk reactions but South Africa's bowlers have looked less than threatening again. Oh well, plenty of time for them to find their rhythm. But then again, if they don't make a breakthrough with the new ball I'll bet South Africa start top panic.

11.00 START DELAYED
A bit of rain, which will please South Africa because it should juice up the pitch a bit. The prices are [4.5] England, [2.54] South Africa and [2.32] draw. With Ryan Sidebottom out and England losing the toss, inevitably their price has drifted. I'm going to be on email all day, so feel free to drop me a line at hawkeyeview@hotmail.co.uk

10.35 SA win the toss and bowl
South Africans are renowned for stupidity. They eat dried meat for goodness sake! Graeme Smith has done little to enhance the reputation of his countrymen by winning the toss and bowling first. Dear, oh dear Graeme. Have you forgotten that England's bowlers are knackered after three styraight days in the field at Lord's? Or perhaps you have not see the stat that seven of the last eight Tests at Headingley have been won the side batting first because the pitch crumbles. And certainly you have put to the back of your mind the poor performance by your bowlers at HQ. There have been more surprises. A former roofer born in Grimsby - Darren Pattinson - will make his debut in place of Ryan Sidebottom, who has a back injury. Paul Collingwood is dropped. Tim Ambrose will bat at No 6. And some chap called Flintoff plays and bats at No 7.

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1. mahavir | 18 July 2008

   thanks for your view.

   i think england is not likely to score more than 250-260 in the first innings
   

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