England in South Africa 2015/16

No. Both of them would have been classified as Coloured under the apartheid classification.

Statistics South Africa collects ethnic data under the headings Black, Coloured, Indian or other Asian, White, Other, with the definitions broadly following those used hitherto. The Coloured community, mainly in the Cape, has always had a strong tradition of cricketing involvement (viz. Basil D'Oliveira) and has provided most of the non-White players to appear since the reconstruction of South Africa. Political sensitivity over the quota is high because this group represents about 9% of the population, the same as Whites, while Black Africans are about 79%.

I agree with you about the tedium of the draw, though Amla in particular showed a lot of guts in settling in and playing with determination. Bairstow looks to have come of age as a proper batsman now and should certainly keep his place after this tour, but that does leave a problem over the keeping. Buttler is adequate as a keeper in the one-day stuff and a terrific batsman in that version of the game, but his keeping is no more adequate for first-class matches than Bairstow's and either will cost us many runs in missed opportunities and general shoddiness of taking.

8th wicket just down and another catch to Bairstow. I didn't watch any play live yesterday but from this dismissal and the comments made on radio it looks as if he is much more comfortable taking the fast bowling on a bouncy wicket. None of these catches were hard to take but at least he held them efficiently.


On edit: and as I was writing he holds a 6th. He looks much more comfortable standing werll back, possibly because he is quite tall and doesn't find it so easy to crouch and still move into position fluidly. Well done to him and England.

I shall look forward to watching Sussex play Derbyshire this year to see Harvey Hosein, who set a record on his debut two years ago taking seven catches in the first innings and four in the second. He is 5'10", which is practically dwarfish by modern standards.

A fantastic innings from Root today, what a player. That was a spectacular ton and could be on a par with Stokes' by lunch time tomorrow. I've watched a lot of this series and Bairstow's keeping has quite impressed me, an easy and costly Amla drop aside. He's better than Buttler right now in both disciplines, he's a proper top order bat. Buttler can get back in with Bairstow there, I'm not fancying Hales or Taylor in this format - two of the first names on the ODI team sheet though. Hales in particular just has to play his natural game, which still might not be enough.

I think we're gonna go two up. They miss Steyn more than we miss Anderson, or anyone, when they're absent. Cracking Test this one, cracking, exciting and balanced track.

Mash-up. This England team, on tracks that aren't slow and dusty, is heading for great things. And they're still carrying a couple of bodies in my view. In all three formats our sides, and depth in all, look very strong - county game's doing alright without a multitude of Kolpaks and unworkable franchises thank you very much.

I've no idea why SA are number one in the world. Form over the last year let alone in this series suggests they shouldn't be. Christ knows how the ratings work, or don't work, more accurately. Like all sides who lose massive players, Smith, Kallis and Boucher in a short space of time, they are struggling. In relation to my first point I spose, what helps a side come out the other end? Their domestic system, or just luck. Maybe a bit of both.

Yes clearly an excellent day yet questions remain about Hales, Compton & Taylor. I doubt if any will feature in the first test v Sri Lanka. Early season form may well give opportunities to the Yorkshire trio of Lyth, Lees and Balance to replace them. I would bat Bairstow at 5, restore Balance to 3 (he is the quickest player to 1,000 test runs for England) and have a lees/lyth shoot out to open. The future looks bright for England but paradoxically bleak for Yorkshire.