Live Test Match Blogging / Ed Hawkins / 17 December 2009 /

England are under the gun against South Africa in Centurion. They need a good day to prevent the hosts posting a total of 400 or more. Ed Hawkins is on hand with all the betting advice. Email him at hawkeyeview@hotmail.co.uk

CLOSE 15.59 Eng 88-1
That's yer lot folks. The pitch is looking flat indeed. Still, a lot of cricket left to be played. Andrew Strauss (44) and Jonathan Trott (18) must start again tomorrow from scratch. South Africa's bowlers need to come up with some new plans from scratch. Given the ease with which England have seen out the day, there have to be a few seeds of doubt that this Test could end in stalemate. Maybe the pitch will deteriorate. Maybe it won't. South Africa [4.80], England [7.40] and the draw [1.49].

15.41 Eng 70-1
Serene progress for England so Graeme Smith brings back young buck Friedel de Wet to try to shake things up. De Wet has, in truth, sprayed it all over the place and is reminiscent in every regard of Dale Steyn when England first clapped eyes on him in 2004-05. Lots of pace, but little accuracy. South Africa definitely have something to work with, it is just that as far as taking 20 wickets in this game De Wet might not be of huge use. The other problem for South Africa is that Morne Morkel has not hit the correct length yet to trouble the England batsmen.

15.28 Eng 65-1
For those wondering why South Africa are wearing black arm bands I would've thought it was obvious. Graeme Smith's grandfather died. What do you mean that it isn't of national importance? England are considering wearing armbands tomorrow for their bus driver. His dog died you see. ironically it got run over by a bus which was not his. Seven overs to go.

15.13 Eng 58-1
South Africa are down to one review after they failed to overturn a 'not out' leg before decision against Jonathan Trott. Hawkeye showed it was going to hit but the call went back to the umpire, who reckoned that it remained a fair decision. Strauss has 22 and Trott 12.

14.51 Eng 29-1
That price about Jonathan Trott is a quirk of an immature market but even if he was a point bigger it would be horrific value. South Africa will look to exploit his fondness for playing around his front leg, making him an lbw candidate. Granted Trott looked good in his one Test against Australia but should someone in only his second Test, batting at No 3 for the first time, really be so short? Of course not. In reality we don't know for sure whether he has what it takes at this level.

14.40 Eng 25-1
It has to be said that I don't have a strong view on top England bat. I reckon I could have made a case for everyone except Alastair Cook, who is already out. But that won't surprise regular readers of this blog because I just can't abide him as an international batsman. Strauss at [3.55] will have his followers given fine form in the last 12 months while Trott [3.00] and KP [4.00] will attract the emotional bettors. I would plump for Paul Collingwood at [5.00] over anyone, though. He has ground form (a ton on this ground in November and an 83 in October) and if we get variable bounce later on, he will relish the battle.

14.37 Eng 25-1
Cook c Boucher b de Wet 15. South Africa [3.05], England [10.00], the draw [1.72].

14.23 Eng 6-0
Time to look at the top England batsman market. And we're looking at it from a different angle as England are so bad in the first Test of away series - they have won one of their last seven - then it must surely follow that there are batsmen who acclimatise quicker than others. Of the last five Tests abroad, Ian Bell has settled the best with two top-bat honours. Of course the flaw in my theory is not only have England been out there for weeks but Andrew Strauss, Jonathan Trott, Kevin Pietersen and Matt Prior were all born in the country.

14.19 Eng 4-0
Our first look at Friedel de Wet ... a disastrous first ball. WIDE. Better second one, though. He had Strauss fishing for that one. De Wet has an intense run up. He really pounds in with a murderous look on his face. A bit like that chap in Terminator who can jump through walls.

14.11 Eng 1-0
Makhaya Ntini, the 100th-Test hero, gets England's innings underway. An important dig because it will really dictate our views of the pitch, which in turn will have the greatest impact on the market. If England have few problems punters will lose faith in the ability of one side to take 20 wickets on what will be perceived as a flat track. However, if South Africa make inroads we'll see big changes. The draw price is [1.63] and that is where we'll see most movement. As I type, AB de Villiers has dropped Alastair Cook at slip off Ntini. An easy chance!

13.59 SA 418
Five wickets for Graeme Swann as he traps Friedel de Wet but South Africa are in control of this Test. They become the first side to score 400 or more at Centurion in seven Tests and have almost certainly inflicted 'scoreboard pressure' - a very 'in' phrase at the moment - on England, who will be concerned to see some uneven bounce. They have to bat last on this. South Africa [3.25], England [11.00] and the draw [1.64].

WICKET 13.49 SA 414-9
Harris b Onions 38. South Africa [3.15], England [13.50] and the draw [1.61]. Makhaya Ntini makes his way to the middle to an ovation. This is his 100th Test.

13.35 SA 405-8
I want to take issue with the emergence of the word 'insert' in commentary. It's unpleasant. Please stop using it. Yesterday David Lloyd informed us that Andrew Strauss had inserted. Keep it to yourself, we're not interested. Now Shaun Pollock's making revelations. "They'll want to insert England tonight." Enough!

13.30 SA 401-8
The resumption. Come on England, I've had enough of this innings. Let's move the game on. Ditto for SA, hit out or get out.

TEA 13.11 SA 401-8
That's was turgid. South Africa MUST accelerate. Only 11 runs in the last 10 overs. The draw price, understandably, is going through the floor at [1.66]. South Africa are [2.96] and England, rapidly heading for the horizon, at [15.00].

13.04 SA 400-8
Tea is approaching. South Africa are doing draw layers no favours. Their fourth hundred has been the slowest of the lot at 244 balls. That's no good to anyone except England.

12.53 SA 398-8
This is a bit of a boring spell here folks. South Africa are not really scoring runs and England sure as hell aren't taking wickets. The onus is on South Africa to punch on to increase their lead quickly or get out and stick England in to try to get on with winning this Test. The run rate in the last 10 overs is just 2.10. South Africa have often been accused of this sort of negative play - trying to make the game safe before putting their foot down to win it. But they shook of that image in 2008 when they won in England then went on to win in Australia at the start of this year.

12.45 SA 395-8
South Africa close in on 400. They have done very well to post such a total given the history of sides struggling in first innings on this ground. De Wet Behind the Ears has looked reasonable as a batter - he announced himself with two fours off Graeme Swann - and any runs he can add will mean South Africa will miss Dale Steyn less. Harris has 31 and James Anderson has breached the 100-run mark.

WICKET 12.18 SA 377-8
England needed that. Boucher c Cook b Swann 49. South Africa [2.90], England [11.00] and the draw [1.74]. That brings Test debutant Friedel de Wet to the wicket. You could say he is de Wet behind the years. Arf! I've been waiting for ages to write that.

12.12 SA 377-7
A pain in the Harris. It is the South Africa spinner, rather than Mark Boucher, who has unleashed an array of shots. Harris is 22 not out with three fours coming in the last three overs, one of those was a cavalier back-foot drive off Stuart Broad. The partnership is worth 36. Boucher needs one more for a 50.

11.58 SA 359-7
Paul Harris looks as though he is not entirely sure which side of the bat is the face. He's not quite in line, his feet are awkward. But he sure as hell can frustrate. England know that too well. He averages a very healthy 26 against them and in 2008 he drove them to distraction. He hung around for 94 minutes in South Africa's first-innings at Leeds to allow AB de Villiers to twist the cutlery. In the next Test at Birmingham - the pivotal game - he survived for 91 minutes as nightwatchman in the first dig. You have been warned.

11.42 SA 349-7
We are just waiting for Mark Boucher to accelerate. Stuck with the tail, the keeper would be wise to start to throw the bat in a quest for quick runs. There have been signs that he is trying to farm the strike but as of yet no great statement of intent. Perhaps he will reckon that Paul Harris can hang around for a bit.

11.28 SA 341-7
WICKET 11.28
Morne Morkel c Prior b Onions 13. South Africa [2.74], England [9.20] and the draw [1.84].

11.25 SA 336-6
As Morne Morkel recovers from a blow to what looks like the chin, now is a good time to discuss the review system, which South Africa used perfectly to allow Morkel to hang around long enough to suffer his current pain. Specifically my gripe relates to the players' agitation when a review goes against them. You may recall Ricky Ponting chewing wasps in Adelaide against West Indies recently. Today, Graeme Swann had a strop over the Morkel leg before. Since then the Shy commentators have consistently harped on about how unhappy England will be. I can't see why. The correct decision has been made and one would think that everyone involved in the game wants that. But of course they don't. Players want decisions to go in their favour all of the time, right or wrong. At least they can console themselves that this review system has been brought in because of their attempts to con the umps down the years.

11.13 SA 330-6
Back after lunch. I've been stewing about the review system. Spleen will be vented shortly.

LUNCH 10.32 SA 330-6
England will be pleased with their morning despite Morne Morkel successfully challenging a leg before decision off Swann. South Africa were threatening to put them out of the game with Kallis and JP Duminy starting again but the the tourists can hope to restrict them to under 400. We could have fireworks after the break, though. Mark Boucher may look to attack as Morkel is absolutely strokeless. South Africa [2.64], England [11.50] and the draw [1.80]. See you in 40.

10.19 SA 323-6
This is slightly sad but here is a list of the most catches in a Test innings by a fielder.

10.17 SA 323-6
England thought they had Mark Boucher and Paul Collingwood himself a world record. Boucher got an inside edge onto the ground and it flew to Colly at slip, who dived forward. England reckoned it had come off a boot. They were wrong. Collingwood would have equalled the world record of five catches in a Test innings.

10.06 SA 322-6
I must admit that yesterday Iwas guilty of not knowing my Onions. I was spelling his name 'Graeme' when it is, of course Graham. Anyway, Graham Onions has just dropped a bit of a dolly it must be said. Out on the hook, Boucher top-edged one and Onions got both got hands to it but succeeded only in punching the ball over the ropes for four. Stuart Broad, the bowler, was furious.

09.57 SA 317-6
It was hardly a surprise that the Duminy-Boucher axis was split so early (see 09.30). They put on 33, which is actually rather good by their standards. Duminy's dismissal was a virtual carbon copy of Ashwell Prince's yesterday and was also in his first over of the day. Morne Morkel is the new batsman.

WICKET 09.52 316-6
JP Duminy c Collingwood b Swann 56. South Africa [2.62], England [9.50] and the draw [1.89]

09.50 SA 315-5
Blog buddy Cherrene has been in touch ... all the way from Singapore. She reckoned that yesterday's blog was "inspirational", which is surely over doing it, and that our Girls Aloud reference was "long overdue". However, one negative was the amount of coverage that regular poster JC gets. "I'm jealous ... too much air time." Well, JC is often popular at Xmas. Here's a picture of Girls Aloud to cheer you up.

09.30 SA 299-5
The players take drinks. A good time to try to work out how many South Africa are going to get. The hosts are [1.70] for 425 or more, which looks too short. This is South Africa's last recognised batsmen partnership. And we use partnership in the loosest possible term. JP Duminy and Mark Boucher have been hopeless when thrown together in the past. These are their last five efforts together: 20, 6, 9, 27 and 39. They have added 16 so far.

09.15 SA 293-5
Mark Boucher has replaced Kallis at the crease. He averages 34 on this ground and 19 when playing England (three Tests). James Anderson, who removed Kallis, has bowled impressively this morning. He has been almost metronomic in his line and length and the one that got Kallis just nipped away a little.

09.04 SA 283-5
So still no double century for Jacques Kallis. Aficionados who wonder why Kallis, who has a better Test average than Sachin Tendulkar, is not talked about as much as the Little Master, have one reason. Surprising lack of movement on the draw price, though with that wicket. You can still lay at [1.89]. Tremendous value after that wicket. There have been only two draws in 15 Tests at Centurion and the locals reckon the pitch is going to get "up and down".

WICKET 08.59 SA 283-5
Kallis c Collingwood b Anderson 120. South AFrica [2.85]. England [11.50] and the draw [1.80.

08.48 SA 274-4
As I munch on my Cheerios, I'm finding it increasingly difficult not to lay the draw. It's [1.90] now. I've got some very convincing stats which I can shove your way shortly. Will do so once I've finished with the cereal bowl.

08.38 SA 268-4
Morning all. England wilted in the heat yesterday at Centurion but with it even hotter today, one has to be concerned they might melt away into insignificance. Jacques Kallis is eyeing his first double century and the hosts must make use of the new ball to stay in the game. Here are the prices: South Africa [2.50], England [12.50] and the draw [1.89].

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