Got to say I agree with KP when he says Buttlers figures don’t match his ability. Josh is a test match batsman IMO. He’s not a Jason Roy who an out and out slogger, he’s very capable of playing the tempo required then lifting the pace when needed. He’s a quality batsman who can play the long game or be the destroyer. I wouldn’t drop him, I’d back him.

England allowing SA to bowl at them. Going at 2 runs per over doesn’t give you any control and doesn’t give the bowlers anything to think about. The best teams in most sports are the teams who are positive and continually push their opponents back.

No, but they are very well organised and hard to beat, more so than us - just to add ..... whenever I’ve watched them. So I agree with Philip on that one.

What? You would if you lived where I live. They are THE rivals here. I’m making another appearance tomorrow so our lads better be up for this one. Question is, do Mowbray and the players realise how important these games are to the fans? I doubt it very much. It’s the most important game of any season for us Leylanders and a lot rests on this result. BTW, why are North Enders the only fans who only want to talk about attendances? Something wrong deep down with those guys. It’s an inferiority complex coupled with raging jealousy of how we’ve been better than them for something like 56 years out of the last 60. plonkers.

Yes, but it’s about more than that Tyrone. Stokes was still bowling at 90 mph pretty much throughout his 23 overs. He forced that result through sheer guts, strength and determination - something Jofra Archer should take on board.

?

Stokes on a hat trick

Fantastic stuff here.

Sibley 29 n.o. so far off 85. He’s doing the job I guess, but he’s not convincing. Doesn’t ever look like he’s in control.

Our academy players have to be good enough to play in the first team, that’s the real point. They can’t be pushed through just because they are one of ours. If we can get someone better from another club then that has to be done. besides that, pushing young lads through that basically aren’t going to make it only gives the academy management team an easy time. If the academy can’t produce the players then they must change until they do IMO.

More pathetic play from rovers

“Take care of the ball”. Surely its the starting point for any reasonable coach? it means don’t give it away. We’re any of the players even thinking that way, because it didn’t look that way to me. I’m not sure where their heads were, or what they were trying to achieve it was that bad IMO. Didn’t Mowbray say recently that the results during the good run were down to doing the basics properly? it seems all of that has been completely ignored since.

Only saw the second half, but blimey totally clueless. 11 individuals running around not understanding what’s required is the impression they gave. and I know Buckley is young but he offers very little.

How many do you need?

Big gaps between centre halves and both full backs. Evans and travis should be patrolling those areas but aren’t.

Tried hard but couldn’t find the quality tonight. It happens. Rovers will be the happier of the two sides.

? howler wasn’t it. Never seen a bowler laughing when he’s had a catch dropped before.

It’s very odd. A bowler who can hit 96mph bowling at mid 80’s. Can’t remember Lillee or Thomson going soft on the England batsmen. I can only imagine that for some reason he’s being encouraged to bowl slower. at the moment his position in the team should be in doubt. If they want a medium bowler there are other and maybe better options.

Get shut please.

https://sportsrecents.com/en/blog/?p=109 not so sure about this one!

This is a bit naughty, but.............. did people really think we would be better off without Big Sam? Did people really believe that getting rid of the bigger wage earners and investing in young and hungry players was the way to go when we were half way up the Premier League?

More of a trance with nobody having a clue what to do about it, or prepared to do anything about it. A club with owners who have no physical contact with their management and running the business completely via phone calls and emails can never prosper can it?

Wales. i haven’t seen much of SA in this comp, so don’t know how good they are. The norm for them is big, tough and very physical.

There’s very few of today’s team that would survive under Hughes.

45 mins to defend two goals and we allow them three? doubt it will alter anything at Ewood.