Key events
Credit for the men in the white hats? This from Kieron Shaw raises a good point:
“After those two Broad reviews, it occurs to me again that when a team’s confident review reveals the umpire having been correct all along, there should really be a round of impressed applause from the crowd for the umpire.
“They don’t get much, umpires. And the best ones have such an incredible symphony of sensory instincts – able to capture and tease apart tiny variations in height and length, and multiple minor sounds and visuals, all in a nanosecond. So when the technology shows them to have been slightly off, it’s very unfair. It would feel very cricket for the crowd to graciously acknowledge when the umpire has in fact displayed terrific instincts, proving everyone else in the ground wrong. “
Fully agree with you Kieron. It’s a tough job and we’re quick to give them grief when they get it wrong. Maybe you can start a movement?
16th over: South Africa 52-6 (Zondo 7, Jansen 14) At last, some genuine quality from a South African batter. That is as good an on drive as you’ll see from the lanky Jansen who gets forward and eases Robinson down the ground for four. The ball before a mean bouncer thwacked him on the shoulder and later in the set he almost feathers an outside edge. But fair play to the tall, young lad. He’s showing some fight.
Well, that explains a thing or two
15th over: South Africa 48-6 (Zondo 7, Jansen 10) A (comparative) deluge of runs from Jansen’s bat. First a strong flick to the midwicket fence and then another worth three that forces Jack Leach to run round from fine leg and sweep up. There’s a review for lbw but, as Ali Martin next to me pointed out, “you know it wasn’t out because Broad appealed [in the direction of the umpire]”. Indeed. It was going over Zondo’s leg stump. Two reviews burned now for England.
It was a moving morning with tear jerking renditions of the anthems as the teams paid their respects to the Queen. Simon Burnton was there to capture the moment:
14th over: South Africa 41-6 (Zondo 7, Jansen 3) Quality again from Robinson. This is McGrath-like. Wonderful bowling and what a spectacle. Not if you’re South African, mind. Jansen is off the mark with a push through mid on worth two and takes another one through that same vacant area. Zondo then does well not to nick Robinson from a lifter off a good length.
13th over: South Africa 37-6 (Zondo 7, Jansen 0) Oooh, there’s an appeal for caught behind off the inside edge of Jansen’s blade. Broad and Foakes are convinced and Stokes wastes no time reviewing. Nothing doing. No bat or flick of the pocket. Not sure what they heard. No matter. Broad is tidy and threatening after Zondo’s nudge for one down to fine leg.
Rob Durbin, that is a ripper of an email, mate:
“May I cheekily suggest that assuming England rissole the SA lower order fairly cheaply they declare their first innings at 0-0, bowl SA again and knock off the runs before tea time?”
You know what, that is brilliant. Go on Ben Stokes. Do it!
12th over: South Africa 36-6 (Zondo 6, Jansen 0) I’m running out of ways to describe South Africa’s predicament. A deep, dark hole doesn’t cut it. This is the Mariana Trench of a batting collapse. Robinson picks up a wicket with a loose ball but to be fair, he could have got one earlier in his set with another jaffa that lifted and moved and almost took Mulder’s outside edge. He has four now.
First a word, now a phrase. John Starbuck is in an inventive mode:
“Coining another saying: ‘into the tail before lunch’ – sounds like a whole-animal chef’s preparation.”
WICKET! Mulder c Foakes b Robinson 3 (South Africa 36-6)
I’ve said before that the South Africans hadn’t done much wrong despite the scorecard. Until now. That is a dreadful shot from Mulder, regardless of the context of the game. It’s a wide one from Robinson and the right hander wafts at it without moving his feet. It catches the edge and Foakes takes his fourth catch of the morning. Dreadful from Mulder. He might as well keep his whites on. At this rate he’ll be out there again shortly.
Time for a hero.
“Zondo and Mulder sounds like a terrible X-Files spin off”,” says Miranda Jollie. Dean Elgar will hope these two inexperienced players can bend time and space to rescue his team.
11th over: South Africa 36-5 (Zondo 6, Mulder 3) A drinks break. Not that England have broken a sweat as they’ve rattled through their guests in the opening hour. This latest over, delivered by Broad, is worth four runs. A single to Zondo past gully, a couple for Mulder through that same area and another single for Mulder to round things off off his hips. Bounce and nip still present for Broad. Phew, what a start for Ben Stokes and his team.
10th over: South Africa 32-5 (Zondo 5, Mulder 0) A wicket maiden for Robinson. Just one leg bye at the start but as you know, that doesn’t count against the bowler. Robinson is running through the Saffas who, according to Andy Zaltzman, have just recorded their worst ever start against England since their first Test back in 1889 when they were 17-5.
WICKET! Verreynne c Foakes b Robinson 0 (South Africa 32-5)
This is bewildering stuff. It’s hard to be critical of the South African batters. They’re not playing reckless shots, they’re just not good enough to deal with this bowling that is breathtakingly good. Robinson angles it in towards Verreynne’s stumps and gets it to hold its line just enough to take the outside edge. Verreynne couldn’t do much more than offer the full face of the bat and hope for the best. That’s 3-14 from Robinson and it’s not less than he deserves. Wiaan Mulder is the new man. What a job he’s got on his hands.
“Hello Daniel.” Heya Timothy Sanders. Good to hear from you. “If David Kent hasn’t yet got his coat on, he might like to know that Elgar did close the Proms this year. On Thursday evening, although the planned concert was cancelled at the last moment, the Philadelphia Orchestra played the National Anthem and ‘Nimrod’ from the Enigma Variations, for the audience already gathered.”
There you are, David.
WICKET! Rickelton c Foakes b Broad 11 (South Africa 31-4)
Another one and this time it’s Stuart Broad, into the attack in place of Anderson. After getting clattered by Rickelton to a short and wide one, Broad gets it up and brings the batter forward. It kisses the edge and Foakes completes the catch. Nine overs, four wickets and South Africa are staring at a catastrophic end to their tour.
9th over: South Africa 31-4 (Zondo 0, Verreynne 0)
8th over: South Africa 26-3 (Rickelton 7, Zondo 4) Wonderful from Robinson. This is some spell. He was unlucky not to pick up early wickets in Manchester but he’s done that today. This over, a maiden to Rickelton, tests both edges and almost takes the outside of the blade on two occasions. Lift, seam, the perfect length. Really, really good.
Gary is bang on again. This morning wasn’t about South Africa but I can’t remember a more stirring rendition of my country’s anthem. Certainly outside of SA. Chills.
Another difference today @danielgallan.
The absence of music on the PA and interviews and adverts on the big screen has given ownership of the atmosphere back to the crowd. It makes a huge difference to the experience and I’m sure it lifts the players too.
— Gary Naylor (@garynaylor999) September 10, 2022
7th over: South Africa 26-3 (Rickelton 7, Zondo 4) Nice carry from the 40-year-old Jimmy Anderson. Remarkable how much snap he’s able to generate. Zondo and Rickelton exchange singles to start the over and then Zondo picks up two by opening the face as he presses forward and steers it past a stacked slip cordon.
Will we even get to day 3?
@danielgallan Well it looks as though England are keeping up their fine tradition of finishing tests before Saturday tea time…
— TheFlyingPasty (@ToffeeDan) September 10, 2022
6th over: South Africa 21-3 (Rickelton 6, Zondo 0) All the talk of a Test lasting only three days but that now looks surplus to requirements. Robinson is on fire. What a bowler he is, by the way. Tall, lithe, strong and with a great wrist means he’s a nightmare to face. Petersen whacked a drive through a vacant point for four but then lost his off stump when he shouldered arms to one he should have played. The new man is Zondo who is taking guard in a Test for the first time. He gets off the mark immediately with a little bunt into the off side. Big partnership coming up. It’s the ‘keeper and all-rounders to come.
WICKET! Petersen b Robinson 12 (South Africa 21-3)
There are good leaves and bad leaves, and that is a terrible one. What was Petersen thinking? It’s moved off the seam, sure, but it hasn’t exactly hooped through the air. That was never wide enough to let go but Petersen has shouldered arms and lost his off stump as a result. A shocker coupled with some probing bowling. South Africa in real trouble.
5th over: South Africa 17-2 (Petersen 8, Rickelton 6) Oh, that’s tasty Jimmy. Really good outside Rickelton’s off stump and it whizzes past the outside edge. Rickelton doesn’t get very far forward which is what you want to do when the ball is moving. A single for each batter keeps the scoreboard ticking but it’s all England right now. You sense there’s a wicket lurking in every over.
4th over: South Africa 15-2 (Petersen 7, Rickelton 5) A checked drive past point gives Petersen three and a dropped single in the covers adds one more to Rickelton’s score. It’s good work from Robinson who hits the deck hard with some nibble off the seam. Testing for the Saffas.
The way these two bowl with the new ball, we might need a nickname for them. Good thing John Starbuck is in touch:
“Hi Dan, Is it time for a neologism: Brobinderson? Or too soon?”
I think bang on time, John.
“It’s not a great day for Elgar; cancelled first at the Last Night of the Proms and then at the wicket. I’ll get my coat …”
I’ll get it for you, David Kent.
3rd over: South Africa 11-2 (Petersen 4, Rickelton 4) Success for Anderson. A teaser that Erwee just couldn’t resist. The new man Rickelton, who has scored heaps of runs for Northants, is off the mark with a sumptuous drive through the covers as he jumps all over a half volley. He’ll need to hit a few more to dig his team out of this early hole.
“Having seen the second wicket go, I’m making a case for two-day Tests. Thoughts?”
Might be more than necessary, Kerrith Britland. How do you feel about games lasting 100 balls each innings? Now there’s an idea.
“Nice to see the England players showing respect by wearing black armbands … although it is interesting that they are showing even more respect to their sponsors, whose logos are carefully not obscured.”
Not sure I follow, Robert Heath. Are you suggesting that the sponsors should be covered because of the Queen’s passing?
WICKET! Erwee c Foakes b Anderson 0 (South Africa 7-2)
Both openers are gone after just 14 balls. Anderson usually looks to bring the ball back into the left hander but this one angles across Erwee and keeps going. He can’t help but prod at it and gets a thickish edge that a diving Foaks snaffles behind the stumps. England rampant. Three days now looks like plenty of time for a result.
2nd over: South Africa 6-1 (Erwee 0, Petersen 3) A wonderful start from Robinson. Extra lift on a challenging length, he was too good for Elgar. Two no-balls and a leg stump half volley to the new man Petersen – clipped for three towards midwicket – blights his otherwise perfect start, but Robinson won’t mind too much. He’s got the big fish of the Saffa skipper.
WICKET! Elgar b Robinson 1 (South Africa 1-1)
Jaffa. The second sensational nut from Robinson this over but this one shapes back into Elgar off the seam and sends the South African captain’s off stump cartwheeling towards the slip cordon. Lovely bowling. Elgar perhaps could have been more compact but it’s just a great ball that finds the gap between bat and pad and makes a thunderous thunk as it takes the wooden peg. The crowd release a roar. England on their way.
More on the silence at the start. As Gary says, it was deep with meaning, whatever your politics.
I’ve heard the depth of silence we witnessed at The Oval once before @danielgallan – Wembley Stadium for the post-Hillsborough FA Cup Final.
Then it was suffused with anger; today suffused with sadness.
— Gary Naylor (@garynaylor999) September 10, 2022
1st over: South Africa 1-0 (Elgar 1, Erwee 0) It’s a typically tidy start from Jimmy A who keeps it full and straight. Elgar is off the mark with a little nurdle off his pads and Erwee is watchful as Anderson shapes it back into him.
“Hi Daniel.” Hi Graham O’Reilly. “Am I alone in thinking that now that the match is over three days, there should be a new toss?”
Not sure. I think because the game officially started on Thursday and had the first day rained off (as opposed to postponed because of the Queen) then we’re just picking up where we left off. If you know what I mean.
That’s really lovely, Anna, thank you for joining me. I have to say those anthems were something. Laura Wright absolutely nailed them.
There’s an incredible hush over the ground as the players gather in a row. Total silence apart from a few clacking cameras and the occasional cough. It’s genuinely moving.
Here are the timings for today:
10.50 – Military walk onto the field of play to form guard of honour (GOH)
10.51 – Match officials and teams enter through (GOH) and line up either side of the wicket, team management and squad to stand at boundary edge
10.54 – Minute’s silence
10.55 – One bell chime by the highest ranking military at the Kia Oval
10.55.15 – Introduce the Anthem of South Africa – Sung by Laura Wright
10.57 – Introduce– Anthem of England (God Save the King) – Sung by Laura Wright
11.00 – Play
Whatever your views on the Monarchy, this will be a morning of Test cricket to remember.
Crowd building as well. There’s a definite sense that something special is happening.
It’s been said before, and no doubt you’ve seen this already, but Ben Stokes deserves some credit for the way he’s carried himself as skipper. I’m enjoying his energy right now. Stating his intention to win, striking the right tone.
Here are a few standout quotes from his chat with Sky earlier:
It’s been very sad news for not only the nation but the world with the Queen’s passing. She was someone who dedicated her life to the nation, someone that we take incredible inspiration from and we are honoured to be able to walk out on the field in memory of the Queen.
We know how much the Queen loved this sport, and the show must go on. I’m sure she’ll be looking down on all the sport that’s still going ahead over this weekend and that we’re going out there in her honour. I’m very pleased and proud we can do that.
Sport is something people come to watch and enjoy but it also brings people together. The way that we’ve played we’ve tried to do that this summer. We’ve probably got even more of a chance to do that with it only being three days of cricket. Everything we do out on the field this week will be to try and get a result this week. We don’t play for draws, so we’ll go out there and try to do everything to win.
While we gear up, have a glance at this cracker from Barney.
Hi folks. Already got a few mails about the weather. Full disclosure, when I typed up my preamble the sun was out. I nipped out for a quick bite (half decent sausage bap if you’re asking) and when I came back it was gone. A blanket of dark gloom now shrouds our favourite star. Jimmy and Co will be loving this.
Preamble
Daniel Gallan
Good morning and welcome to day one day two day three of this third and final Test between England and South Africa.
If you’re mourning the passing of Queen Elizabeth, I hope the cricket offers you joy and distraction.
It should be a great game to take your mind off events beyond the boundary. We’ve got 294 overs across three days to settle the series. That might not sound like much but considering the first Test lasted 171.5 overs, and the second was wrapped up in 245.1, we could well see another blockbuster contest.
There are changes aplenty for the South Africans. Aiden Markram’s form, Rassie van der Dussen’s broken finger, Lungi Ngidi’s hamstring as well as Simon Harmer’s inability to bowl left arm rockets from a two metre frame means that Khaya Zondo, Ryan Rickelton, Wiaan Mulder and Marco Jansen are in.
Dean Elgar’s troops are batting first which means Harry Brook’s Test debut begins in the field. There are no other changes for England.
The sun is out here at The Oval, the real Home of Cricket, according to Ollie Pope. We’re close to the end of a brilliant summer. Here’s hoping the players give us a proper send off.
Catch you in a few.
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