Tweet
England won the toss and chose to bowl v South Africa
England won the toss and opted for a bowl on a cool and murky morning at Lord's. Add a 10.15 start in early September and there were indications that it could prove to an influential toss in a series where they lie 1-1 with South Africa with two games to play.
England were unchanged which meant there was still no opportunity for Jonny Bairstow or Chris Woakes, with Woakes perhaps unfortunate, given the conditions, not to get a run ahead of Samit Patel, who did not bowl at The Oval. Woakes has genuine allrounder status but England chose the more proven batting skills of Patel at No. 7. "The extra seamer did cross our minds but it was a pretty straightforward choice," said England's captain, Alastair Cook.
South Africa recalled Ryan McLaren for Morne Morkel who has been rested. Albie Morkel, who has had ankle problems, was omitted once more.
England 1 Alastair Cook (capt), 2 Ian Bell, 3 Jonathan Trott, 4 Ravi Bopara, 5 Eoin Morgan, 6 Craig Kieswetter (wk), 7 Samit Patel, 8 James Tredwell, 9 James Anderson, 10 Steven Finn, 11 Jade Dernbach
South Africa 1 Graeme Smith, 2 Hashim Amla, 3 Dean Elgar, 4 AB de Villiers (capt & wk), 5 JP Duminy, 6 Faf du Plessis, 7 Ryan McLaren, 8 Wayne Parnell, 9 Robin Peterson, 10 Dale Steyn, 11 Lonwabo Tsotsobe
England won the toss and opted for a bowl on a cool and murky morning at Lord's. Add a 10.15 start in early September and there were indications that it could prove to an influential toss in a series where they lie 1-1 with South Africa with two games to play.
England were unchanged which meant there was still no opportunity for Jonny Bairstow or Chris Woakes, with Woakes perhaps unfortunate, given the conditions, not to get a run ahead of Samit Patel, who did not bowl at The Oval. Woakes has genuine allrounder status but England chose the more proven batting skills of Patel at No. 7. "The extra seamer did cross our minds but it was a pretty straightforward choice," said England's captain, Alastair Cook.
South Africa recalled Ryan McLaren for Morne Morkel who has been rested. Albie Morkel, who has had ankle problems, was omitted once more.
England 1 Alastair Cook (capt), 2 Ian Bell, 3 Jonathan Trott, 4 Ravi Bopara, 5 Eoin Morgan, 6 Craig Kieswetter (wk), 7 Samit Patel, 8 James Tredwell, 9 James Anderson, 10 Steven Finn, 11 Jade Dernbach
South Africa 1 Graeme Smith, 2 Hashim Amla, 3 Dean Elgar, 4 AB de Villiers (capt & wk), 5 JP Duminy, 6 Faf du Plessis, 7 Ryan McLaren, 8 Wayne Parnell, 9 Robin Peterson, 10 Dale Steyn, 11 Lonwabo Tsotsobe