Thetownend.com

Starting this for Leefer  :)

Action begins at 8.30 tomorrow,should be good.Wish i had Sky to watch it,but there is always the fun of wondering if Geoffrey Boycott is going to swear on Radio four again.Shame Kallis is fit again,would have been a plus for us if he'd been out.

Team seems to be up in the a bit still, 9 are obvious enough:

Cook
Strauss
Trott
Pietersen
Collingwood
Prior
Broad
Swann
Anderson

Which leaves two spots for Bell, Wright, Rashid Onions and Sidebottom. I'd probably go for the latter two albeit that then puts a lot of pressure on the top order. I can see Wright getting the nod though, which would be interesting.

Loving a bit of TMS.

If anyone can tell me how I can get TMS commentary on my iPhone I'll love them forever.

If you can get on the text commentary, there's usually an option for the Radio coverage on that.

iPhone doesn't support real player or Windows Media (the only formats broadcast by the BBC website) so I need some kind of radio app that has BBC 5 Live Sports Extra.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/bbcinternet/2008/03/bbc_iplayer_on_iphone_behind_t.html

Through iPlayer?

Dont think they do it live yet Sam....just odd clips?...looking forward to it tomorow..driving to Bridport tomorow for work......so will have Aggers on early!

Googled iphone bbc radio and found this

http://bbcstreams.com/

Not got a iphone so can't try it! But you need to dl some free program then use the links I guess...

It works.

You're well wrong. Swann may well get left out and we go with 4 seamers (although I think he'll play as well).

If Wright plays and Bell isn't in there I'll eat my shoes, what with the pitch looking a bit spicy.

I virtually guarantee:

Cook
Strauss
Trott
KP
Colly
Bell
Prior
Broad
Swann
Jimmy
Onions

With Trott bowling a bit and maybe even Colly winging some down.

And we'll win cos our batsman are looking like gods whereas SA's bowlers are for the most part bowling dog shite.

right im pulling my fucking hair out, just on bbc iplayer website to listen and all it keeps giving me is javascript message, my fucking javascript is enabled!!!! please help someone....

Low tech BBC text commentary in the background for me.

Smith has gone.  1-1.

Now that's funny.

hooray tms back on line. fuck off smith.

Not sure how well this bowling first lark is going to go.

A long hot day in the field seems to be the way it's heading,

Time to get the spinner on

Prince out lbw, it's been referred, interesting times.

Edit: Going over the top, bollocks. Down with technology!

Onions gets the served wicket of Amla, caught Collingwood 51-2. Lovely.

Here come the part-crocked Kallis.

The BBC text commentary is about a week late.  Current score showing as 46-1.  Think I'll be getting my updates from here.

My thoughts exactly...

cook drops a hard catch.

Swann gets Prince with his first ball, 93-3.

de Villiers and Kallis at the wicket now, big partnership.

Edit: Oh nice, 5 runs scored there, good work fielders.

de Villiers caught Cook bowled Swann, four down for 159, Saffers slighly ahead but if we can Duminy, then Boucher and not many of their bowlers are much good with the bat.

Oh dear, Onions has torn something and can't bowl again today. Considering the other three bowlers have all had recent knacks, this could cause the 4 man attack to backfire horribly. Colly, Bell and Trott are all going to get a whirl I think.

Kallis out at last

Swann and Onions were ace this morning.

Strauss looking good so far (touches wooden desk beneath laptop), just wish we'd stop perservering with Cook until he sorts his glaring techincal problems out... Goochy's modifications made him look even worse.

Swann is quality..seems to be able to turn the ball on any wicket..

Pietersen out just as he was starting to look good. Collingwood and Bell in, big partnership this one as we're still a way behind. Two very contrasting players, could be an interesting one.

Edit: Oh dear, it was a no ball as well.

Oh gawd, Bell leaves a straight one and is bowled on middles stump, 5 down, 250 behind.

Middle flippin' stump.

What a Bell...end !!

Ian flippin Bell. End of.

I doubt we'll see a poorer dismissal this century.

BBC:

From Richard in Leeds, TMS inbox: "John Lennon couldn't have put it better;
So this is Christmas
And what has Bell done
Left another straight one
England undone."

Bell really is a liability. Don't know why he is even playing.

BBC :

to the tune of "Walking in a Winter Wonderland":

"Ian Bell……..are you listening
To this song, that we're singing
You left it alone
Now it's time to come home
You'll fly in to a winter wonderland."

Bit of controversy as South Africa spent 35 seconds deciding whether to refer Broad's LBW- Broad and Swann seem to think they were told to by the dressing room, which would be very naughty.

It's unlike the saffers to stretch the rules...

I see our no.9 and 10 batsmen are showing Bell how to bat...

They're not just showing the rest how to bat, they're having fun. That's what it's all about if you ask me.

Turning into a good final two days now.

I must be seeing things...Jimmy Anderson's just hit a six !!!

Graeme Swann is my hero, and my favourite England Cricketer by a mile, a real personality and genuinely seems to enjoy himself in everything he does.

We can still win this....Swann deserved a ton..should be a good last two days.

I would not want to be on the end of Straussys ball... that is all.

By the way, all of you criticising Bell. Did none of you see Trotts yet then??

Jimmy A's smirk after hitting that huge 6 was absolutely priceless.

If Alan Partridge had been commentating he would have said "shit, did you see that?"

I said that!

Bell hasn't been particularly impressive throughout the time he's been part of the England setup. Trott is just starting out, you would think that after a few years in the national side a player would learn not to leave a straight one, no?. At least Trott tried to hit the thing, rightfully so seing as Paul Harris can't spin the thing off a scouring pad!

I hate Sussex, and I'd rather see Luke Wright playing instead of Bell, more bowling and at least he'd probably get double figure in terms of runs if he had the same mindset of Swann.

I'm becoming a convert to Luke Wright but don't think he's good enough in either department yet. I'd play Bresnan or Plunkett who'd give it a whack which is all Wright would look to do (I know he's a better player than just hitting but I think that's how he'd be told to bat), and are streets ahead with the ball.

lukey wright wright wright. fuck off belllend

started well 46 - 4 lead of 100+

Very good stream here

http://www.vshare.tv/live/20969/00_SS2

Best I have ever seen!!

Swanny is bowling well!!

I have never understood Bell still being in the team. He's had years to prove himself and has failed. It's time for someone else to have a fair run in the side.

Why is Broady bowling like such a cunt?

Massive ask tomorrow. I reckon we'll get em, KP's gonna get millions

21 - 2 England chasing 364!  Link from above still working and just as good today!

Cor blimey that was a stroke of luck: Pietersen absolutely plum lbw but it's a no ball from de Wet. 95-3.

Well run Kevin...

what a twat.

A true face palm moment, even KP knew it as he walked off....

[url width=466 height=260]http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/3319/46961436kpout466.jpg[/url]

Its going to be a nervous hour to come.

Unbelievable catch.

Oh good, here comes Mr. Reliable.

We'll be fine.

Can't believe Trott took AB's word for that catch. Wasn't it him in England last time, dropped one, picked it up on the bounce and claimed it? Naughty little cunt.

Bell goes for two.

Hands up all those who are suprised.

Be fair. He didn't do alot wrong though this time did he? Some catch.

Get Plunkett in.

Edging a straight one? Great catch yes, but he shouldn't have edged it behind in the first place.

You're a bit of a thick cunt

Charming.

Oh bugger, de Wet is, without wishing to resort to puns, on fire, and Prior's gone as well.

Broad, Swann and Onions to grind it out with Collingwood: 8 overs to go.

What is Prior doing nicking a straight one?! He must be dropped!

Right Nemo?

Dear, dear, dear, dear,dear!

Actually, yes! We can then bring another Saffer in! (Kieswetter)

Agree there, Craig's a god!

Good one!

Prior's ball was considerably better, although he was looking scratchy as anything before it. He's also the wicket keeper, whereas Bell is meant to be a front line batsman. Bell frustrates me as he clearly has all the talent in the world but the slightest bit of a pressure situation and he buckles completely. The guy is playing his 50th test, he should be more reliable right now, you'd expect this of debutants and the first few matches, but he is now a veteran by the standards of our squad and needs to be able to block up in the way Collingwood and Trott before him have.

Also, Kieswetter is very good but he isn't qualified yet. Oh shit, Broad's gone.

I hate Ian Bell.

I repeat.....Dear, dear, dear, dear,dear!

Agree Prior got a snorter but Bell's got one that's nipped and kept low, if you have even a basic understanding of the game you'd realise Bell didn't do much wrong. I'd never have selected him either, but that's not the point.

Broad's wasn't a good ball and he's nicked it, get him on the next plane home.

Where's Monty when you need him.

Swann gone lbw, Onions need to survive three and a bit overs.

Bugger...

That would be rather plumb

And once again.....Dear, dear, dear, dear, dear!

Indeed, but worth referring for the No-Ball seeing as Morkel seems to bowl an arseton of the things.

19 balls, one wicket.

A bit like the first Ashes test all over again...

Last over, Onions to face. Oh lordie.

Edit: Ntini to bowl? Bit sentimental from Smith!

Angling in, always at the stumps, makes sense I guess

Two balls left...

1 ball...

Castrated (no balls).

Draw

Drawn it! Holy shit that was close.

Colly you god

Too close for comfort.

Agreed. A very similar innings to his one in Cardiff in the first test, and a very similar conclusion in the end. Lets hope that's an omen.

 Good test, and although a bit hairy we did save it, which was more than I expected.

 Think we have to gamble on 5 bowlers, for the next game, although I can see them picking Wright or Bresnan for Bell.

Bresnan is a bowler Reg... a damn good one at that

Bresnan can bat though...he has scored first class hundreds. Is he actually in SA, I've forgotten who we picked.  I suppose if a pitch looked like it might turn, then Rashid could get a game at some point.

I made that point about his batting a couple of days ago Reg, I don't really understand your point? Seemed to me you were putting Bresnan's bowling on a par with Luke Wrights.

 Having thought it I don't think Bresnan is in the tour party anyway...my point is that I think we need 5 front line bowlers, Sidebottom in the past has shown himself to be test standard, but significantly weakens the batting, so I suspect the selectors will err on the side of caution, and pick someone probably Wright, who does a bit of both, but neither to test standard.

We've got Plunkett, Wright or Sidebottom as alternatives, I believe. I think Bresnan was in for the one dayers.

awesome effort at the end. kp must be feeling like a bit of a twat though.

it'll be interesting to see how both teams line up in the next test. the end of ntini perhaps? i'd be concerned about playing an extra bowler in terms of weakening the batting. but what do i know?

Keep the same team.

Plunkett can bat a bit. Luke Wright I still don't think is test material. He's just likes bashing the ball around hard and then bowls some average pacers. He's good but he's a one day man. I'd go with Plunkett over Bell. Broad is a capable batsman now and so is Swann. So Broad at 7 with Plunkett at 8 or 9.