Seamer James Anderson insisted England were not merely battling for survival despite closing 353 from their target with only nine wickets intact. The new ball is very tricky the harder ball does do unexpected things, said nightwatchman Anderson, who is on six after the early exit of Andrew Strauss. If we can get through the first hour in the morning we've got a great chance of batting through t
Former England captain Michael Vaughan has warned Stuart Broad to cut out the moaning and focus on his cricket.Broad remonstrated with the umpires and complained to the match referee after being given out lbw on day three of the first Test against South Africa. The paceman was unhappy with the time it took for the decision to be made but said he had not done anything wrong. But Vaughan told BBC R
An assured hundred from Hashim Amla put South Africa in command of the first Test as England closed day four a distant 353 from victory at 11-1.South Africa resumed on 9-1 and England claimed three wickets by lunch to trail by only 108, but Amla shared 119 with AB de Villiers who struck a fluent 64. Mark Boucher added a rapid unbeaten 63 as the home side declared on 301-7 to set England a formida
England all-rounder Graeme Swann says his team have the initiative after his 85 helped limit South Africa's lead to 71 after three days of the first Test. We were under the cosh a bit but it worked in my favour because I had a free rein, said the 30-year-old. After 10 years of giving my wicket away I think captains have given up on me! I've got my own way of playing and everything I tried came
Graeme Swann's magnificent Test-best 85 rescued England on day three of the first Test against South Africa.Despite Paul Collingwood's gritty 50, England slipped to 242-8 in reply to 418, largely thanks to slow left-armer Paul Harris who finished with 5-123. But Swann, who took 5-110 with the ball, hit 10 fours and two sixes and shared 106 with James Anderson (29). England mustered 356, conceding
Spinner Graeme Swann picked up the third five-wicket haul of his fledgling Test career before England reached 88-1 in reply to South Africa's 418.Resuming on 262-4 on day two of the first Test in Centurion, South Africa built patiently all the way down on a tough day for England's bowlers. Mark Boucher survived a drop on 25 to hit 49 while Graham Onions supported Swann's 5-110 with figures of 3-8
England bowler Graham Onions felt there was still a lot of hard work to be done after two days of a batsmen-dominated first Test in South Africa.Onions took 3-86 in South Africa's 418, before England made an encouraging reply, reaching 88-1 in Centurion. Durham seamer Onions told BBC Sport: One of the big things for me was bowling straight and making them play. With a little bit more luck we
Opener Alastair Cook made an unbeaten 66 as England reached 142-3 in the two-day tour match with a South Africa Invitation side before rain ended play.The Essex left-hander reached fifty from 96 balls with his seventh boundary and went on to hit 10
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