FOURTH TEST, The Oval (day three, close):
South Africa 194 & 110-2 v England 316
Kevin Pietersen's quest for victory in his first Test as England skipper was dented by bad weather at The Oval, as only 17 overs were bowled on day three. South Africa, resuming 85 behind at 37-1, had reduced the deficit to 12 in reaching 110-2 but rain forced an early lunch and no further play was possible. The start was delayed by half an hour, and after a quiet opening Stuart Broad removed Neil McKenzie's middle stump. Hashim Amla hit an assured unbeaten 71, with 14 fours in his ninth Test fifty. LATEST ACTION (all times BST)  | 606: DEBATE |
e-mail tms@bbc.co.uk (with 'For Mark Mitchener' in the subject), text 81111 (with "CRICKET" as the first word) or use 606. (Not all contributions can be used)PLAY ABANDONED FOR THE DAY - RAIN 1652: Umpires have had a look, and play has been abandoned for the day. A bit of a damp squib all round - thanks if you've stuck with us while we've had nothing to commentate on, we'll be back tomorrow morning and hopefully the weather will be better. "Re: Jason [1602], both Ravi and Owais are good county players but both have had many chances to prove themselves in Tests. Surely then you should just select the most in-form batsmen - Bopara"
Ed, Surrey, in the TMS inbox
[Bopara played in all three Tests in Sri Lanka last winter and scored 42 runs in five innings, but Shah made 88 on his Test debut in March 2006 and has only ever been picked for one more Test, over a year later! Hardly "many chances" to prove himself! Be fair! MM] 1630: Still raining at The Oval. Further to my comments at 1602 about rain refund policies, my "gaffer" today Oliver Brett (aka the "Brettmeister General") has furnished me with the official regulations. We've had 17.5 overs today - you get a full refund for 10 overs or fewer, and a 50% refund for between 10.1 and 24.5 overs. Once you complete 25 overs, no refunds. So we'd need to see another 7.1 overs bowled today for the fans not to receive 50% refunds. That's looking less and less likely.
INTERNET LINK: The Oval's rain refund policy"Regarding Tracey Skinner's comments [1531] about Rob Key's reaction to the Durham pitch [1413]... Does she maybe not realise that a ground can have more than one pitch?"
Mark Thomas, London (but currently in Turkey), in the TMS inbox 1602: Still raining at The Oval - it's been raining for over three hours now, so the prognosis isn't good. Unfortunately, you can see it from the authorities' point of view - we've had 17.5 overs bowled today, and I'm pretty sure they still have to offer some sort of compensation to ticket-holders if fewer than 20 overs are bowled. So even if they can just get another 13 balls in, it would save them heaps in compensation... "When will people start to wake up and see that Ravi Bopara simply isn't a Test-quality cricketer? He's been in and out of the ODI squad for some time now, and hasn't done anything particularly special. He's had chances and not taken them - let someone like Shah have a crack at it. Bopara is simply a very good county player, but not much beyond that"
Jason, Norfolk, in the TMS inbox "Re: Jeremy Wilson on Panesar's run out [1501]. If you watch the replays of that wicket, Monty was clearly flat-footed and in no way prepared to run the quick single which was so obviously the likely way for Harmison to attempt to reach 50. That Steve easily made his ground before Monty's wickets were broken shows that the call was good. Not backing up is not even a schoolboy error"
Robert in the TMS inbox[Devil's advocate - given that Harmy had been successfully slogging for an hour, might Monty have half-expected Harmy to just continue slogging to reach 50? MM] 1531: Still raining at The Oval. TMS have gone off air, which is never a good sign about the prospects of play. As I mentioned before, we'll let you know as soon as there's any news either way. "The rain isn't all that heavy, but it's persistent - there are puddles on the outfield, and I wouldn't have thought it's likely that we'll get any more play today"
Christopher Martin-Jenkins on TMS"Steve Harmison's rehabilitation by bowling 450 overs in county cricket suggests that this may be a better way of training than doing physical jerks and playing football on the outfield? What a novel idea!"
John Preston, Portsmouth, in the TMS inbox "Re: the Rob Key comments on the Durham pitch inspection [1413]. Strange how he didn't feel the need to complain when Kent beat Durham in the Friends Provident semi-final at the Riverside... guess the pitch must have been OK then!"
Tracey Skinner, Ashington, in the TMS inbox1501: It's still raining at The Oval - and if you've just tuned in to TMS and are feeling a sense of deja vu, they're replaying Aggers' interview with comedian Mark Steel from the last Test. "Although I'm not a massive fan of precipitation, the British weather is doing me proud as I have tickets for tomorrow and it's looking like we'll have a full day of cricket (assuming the BBC weather forecasters have got their act together). I have to say I was getting a little worried when we skittled them out for 192 on day one. Thanks British summer�"
Jon, unfortunately at work, London, in the TMS inbox "Can we have some sensible comments about Panesar. Selvey says his running between the wickets was incompetent. In fact he has been run out by his partners - Harmison attempting a particularly stupid run. There is a tendency to criticise his fielding even when he doesn't make mistakes - his dive this morning may have looked comical but the shot could not have been stopped anyway. Chris Allen's comments [1401] are frankly astonishing; Panesar has taken five wickets in an innings eight times already. So please let's have less of the lazy, mindless jokes about a key member of the team"
Jeremy Wilson in the TMS inbox
[And if you want to show your support for Monty, you can download a Monty mask from the BBC Sport website - MM]
Download our masks of Monty, KP and other cricket stars1431: It's still raining at The Oval. I'll keep you posted with anything I hear, but it's fair to say we're not very optimistic about play returning any time soon. "Re: 1408 - has Alastair Cook ever been asked to appear on Ainsley's show? If he accepted, would that make it 'Ready Steady Cook, Cook'?"
Cen in the TMS inbox
[His fielding skills were neither ready nor steady for the first ball of the SA first innings - MM]"Should Alastair Cook be in this side? People like Key, Shah, Scott Newman and Bopara have consistently scored runs in County Championship games. Why is Foster not playing? He is a very good keeper and one of the best batsmen in England - he has to play"
Shubani Ratnakumar in the TMS inbox 1413: A story you may have missed from yesterday was the conclusion to the pitch inspectors' visit to Durham, after 38 wickets fell in two days (including 23 on the second day). The pitch inspectors decided to take no further action, leading Kent captain Rob Key to describe the pitch panel as "a bit of a muppet show"... Fighting talk from the Kent skip!
Report: Key rages after Durham beat Kent"With a slight spot of drizzle and overcast conditions I'd be thinking 'throw the ball to Hoggard' - alas the powers that be have left him in the cricketing wilderness for too long..."
Ashley, Dorchester, in the TMS inbox 1408: Play's finished for the day in Colombo - Sri Lanka have a slender advantage over India after two days, thanks to the irrepressible Kumar Sangakkara.
Day 2 report: Sangakkara gives Sri Lanka a lead "Re: 1232 and Aggers declining to appear on Ready Steady Cook, I recall Henry Blofeld appearing a few years back. Ainsley Harriott asked if it was OK to address him as 'Blowers', to which Blowers duly replied 'Certainly, but only if I can call you Ainers'!"
Toby, not playing cricket, Goring, in the TMS inbox1401: Simon Mann on TMS says the weather forecast for Sunday and Monday is "not too bad" - but there's still plenty of precipitation at the moment. "Technically it's correct to refer to it as the square, but the covers extend all the way to within five yards of the point boundary. That's one big rectangle"
Michael on the third man boundary, in the TMS inbox "Ambrose has to go! He can't bat at Test level and his wicketkeeping has gone from average to poor. Monty must join him - he can't bat, field or even back up a man looking for a single for his fifty. His only significant performances with the ball have been on favourable pitches which even Ashley Giles could have bowled well on. He has been a complete under-achiever and only keeps his place because there is no obvious replacement"
Chris Allen, Newcastle upon Tyne, in the TMS inbox 1332: We would have resumed after lunch by now - except for the fact that it's still raining, and the square is still completely covered. Aggers admits he's a "completely useless" cook, and turned down an offer to appear on Ainsley's TV show "Ready Steady Cook". Meanwhile, the weather has taken its toll on the County Championship - play has been called off for the day at Edgbaston, Colwyn Bay and Worcester, while there's been no play so far at Cheltenham. Magically, Taunton is still unaffected!
Latest County Championship scores 1328: Covers are still on, and it's still looking grim. While Aggers speaks to celebrity chef Ainsley Harriott (former head chef of the Long Room at Lord's) on TMS, Christian Reilly has had an idea to solve England's wicketkeeping woes: "Re: 1242 - Gary Wilson (Surrey youngster who keeps wicket) - can we not throw him the gloves and see if he can make a better fist of it that Tiny Tim? In fact, can't we call Bob Taylor to see if he's got a couple of hours free? Does anyone remember when Bob made an emotional return to Test cricket at Lord's in 1986? England keeper Bruce French was struck on the head whilst batting, and Bill Athey took over the gloves while French went to hospital. In one of the hospitality suites, Taylor was hosting a lunch. A message was sent out by captain Mike Gatting, asking if Taylor had any kit with him. Fortunately Taylor had his gloves in the boot of his car and after borrowing spare kit from other players took the field, put in a fantastic display then relinquished the gloves the following day in favour of Bobby Parks, who had made the journey up from Hampshire"
Christian Reilly in the TMS inbox
[Parks only realised the phone call from Lord's was genuine when he was listening to TMS on his car radio while driving up - he thought it might have been a wind-up engineered by Tim Tremlett! MM] 1254: I'm going to take a quick break for a sandwich - but when I get back, I'll keep you posted on the prospects of play for this afternoon. In the meantime, take a quick look at Miss Cheese (Olympics) or Fletch (football)'s live text as the afternoon of sport hots up.
Live text (and video) - Olympics, with Caroline CheeseLive text - Championship, with Paul Fletcher 1252 - RAIN STOPS PLAY - SA 110-2 (26.5 overs)
A single off Broad brings Amla to 69 and reduces the deficit to 15. A loose leg-side delivery is helped down to fine leg by Kallis for a single. There's visible drizzle out there now, how long will they continue? Amla on-drives and they run two to Bell (who's the mid-wicket "Boundary Fox") - then with one ball remaining of the over, ump Steve Davis thinks the rain has got too heavy and they're off. Covers go on, and they'll take an early lunch. "The agression that Amla is playing with could result in him playing in the one-dayers. I don't think he will be at short leg though"
Aravinden in the TMS inbox 1247 - SA 106-2 (26 overs)
The fancy dress contingent at The Oval today includes a number of chaps in military dress (with prodigious moustaches), and a couple of men in leopardskin outfits who look like they may be a Tight Fit tribute band, ready to perform "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" if it rains. Back on the pitch, Freddie goes round the wicket to Amla in order to send down three successive "Beardline" bouncers. There's approaching drizzle, says CMJ on TMS. Amla nudges a single, then Flintoff moves back over the wicket for Kallis, who defends his stumps assuredly. 1242 - SA 105-2 (25 overs)
A Kallis single brings the red-hot Amla on strike, and he continues to plunder the England attack when he guides the ball off his hip for four to fine leg. He's now on 66 (56 in boundaries). A firm square-drive is met by sub fielder Gary Wilson (Irish youngster on the Surrey staff, who also keeps wicket), who's on for Alastair Cook, on the point boundary and they run a single. Cookie returns at the end of the over. 1238 - DROPPED CATCH - SA 99-2 (24 overs)
Amla clips Flintoff through wide mid-on for four, he's on fire at the moment. He then gets a thick inside edge, keeper Tim Ambrose dives well to his left but it falls into the palm of his glove... and out again. He moved very well to get anywhere near it, but in my book, if it goes into the palm of your glove, it should stay in there surely? Am I being harsh there? Amla steers another four past gully, and Flintoff roars with exasperation but as Mike Selvey on TMS says, "there's nothing in the playing conditions which prevents you from having a third man". "Me thinks Mr Amla is trying to push his way into the one-day team somewhat - what a superb 50 - he was battering it around in the first innings as well until he got GBH'd"
Mark, Peterborough, in the TMS inbox 1233 - SA 91-2 (23 overs)
Can "Goldenarm" Broad strike again? Kallis, lest we forget, has been short of runs in this Test series - just 95 runs in six innings. A tumbling stop by Cap'n KP at extra cover keeps Kallis on nought for the time being. A crab-like defensive stroke ensures "Shark" survives the maiden over. "Are we going to hear from Boycott this morning? I still haven't recovered from his concept of 'shaking palm trees in the Caribbean' to watch fast bowlers fall out!"
John Edwards, Chipping Campden, in the TMS inbox1229 - SA 91-2 (22 overs)
A double change but it's new bowler, same action as Andrew Flintoff takes up the attack. Amla brings up his fifty with an attractive square cut - 40 of those 50 runs have come in fours! After a no-ball from Fred, Amla then opens the face to steer another four between third slip and gully. The deficit is now just 31. 1223 - SA 82-2 (21 overs)
New batsman Jacques Kallis takes guard, and Broad - fair hair plastered down by this light rain - has begun with a wicket maiden. 1221 - WICKET - McKenzie b Broad 29 - SA 82-2 (20.4 overs)
First change of bowling this morning as Stuart Broad replaces Anderson, and he raps McKenzie on the pad but stifles the appeal as he got an inside edge. But the very next ball, he shatters McKenzie's stumps as he gets another inside edge! Unbelievably, the football season is upon us - Paul Fletcher is our man in the chair for this afternoon's Championship action, while if the Scottish Premier League is your bag, David Sharp is keeping an eye on things north of the border.
Live text - Championship, with Paul FletcherLive text - Scottish Premier League, with David Sharp 1217 - SA 82-1 (20 overs)
McKenzie blocks one from Harmy which travels only a couple of centimetres and settles in the crease. McKenzie then hooks, and it sails wide of Monty (blameless this time) at fine leg for four. Another short ball, another pull to fine leg, and Monty's "long barrier" receives a large (albeit largely ironic) cheer as they run one. 1213 - SA 77-1 (19 overs)
McKenzie reaches 24 with another nudged single. Jimmy nearly gets through Amla's defences with a searing yorker, but then another inswinger is worked past square leg for four. Unfortunately, there's then some comedy fielding from Monty as Amla on-drives past Mr Panesar at mid-on for four - his despairing dive is just too late. "Having not heard the expression "curate's egg" I took the time out from writing my dissertation to find out what exactly it means. The explanation on Wikipedia is fascinating. I feel much wiser for reading it"
Alex, Newcastle, in the TMS inbox
INTERNET LINK: Curate's egg, from Wikipedia 1207 - SA 68-1 (18 overs)
Captain KP scratches his chin at extra cover - how can he make a breakthrough before the (expected) rain comes? Another uppercut from Amla bounces just a couple of yards in front of the rope at backward point, it nearly went for six - but he has to make do with four. TMS scorer Bill Frindall has noticed some "spitting" rain already. "Monty has added a totally unexpected level of incompetence to his game - the running between the wickets. You wouldn't want to bat with him!"
Ex-Middlesex and England seamer Mike Selvey on TMS1203 - SA 64-1 (17 overs)
Anderson gets some away swing against McKenzie, then a wild delivery swings high and wide of the diving Ambrose and goes through for four byes. Remember, if you're off to football today and want to keep half an eye on events at The Oval, you can follow all the action here on BBC Sport via your mobile phone, PDA or tin-opener (well, two of the above).
How to get cricket scores and news on your mobile "Is there any reason beyond sheer prejudice why women don't play first-class cricket? Our women seem to do so much better than the men these days, it seems a shame to ignore the pool of talent"
Chris, Sheffield, in the TMS inbox 1159 - SA 60-1 (16 overs)
Amla drops the ball towards mid-off and scampers another single. McKenzie slightly mistimes a pull, which flies into the air but lands well wide of Monty Panesar at fine leg and disappears for four. A cover-driven three reduces the deficit to 62. "I was at The Oval yesterday in block 20 and Neil McKenzie was fielding in front of us - part of the crowd in block 19 continuously jeered at him whenever he moved his feet. It was every single step he took and Graeme Smith started to stare at McKenzie as if he was encouraging the crowd. The crowd continued to jeer him whenever he moved all day"
Samuel in the TMS inbox 1155 - SA 52-1 (15 overs)
McKenzie cover-drives a swinging half-volley from Jimmy to the boundary, to bring up the tourists' fifty and also this pair's fifty partnership. Anderson shakes his head as he's not happy with the footmarks he's landing in, and consults with umpire Steve Davis. 1151 - SA 48-1 (14 overs)
The South African women's team are watching the game today, shivering in black fleecey tops. To be totally fair to them, they were completely taken to the cleaners by England yesterday at Lord's, as Charlotte Edwards' team won their ODI by a mere 225 runs. McKenzie taps another quick single off Harmy, and the Durham man is getting a bit of seam movement but the watchful Amla isn't playing at anything he doesn't have to.
REPORT: Record falls as England women win 1146 - SA 47-1 (13 overs)
Amla handsomely uppercuts Anderson over gully and point for four. Cap'n KP tries to plug the gap with a fielder, before Anderson, having got Amla to play and miss, advances the score with a no-ball. A curate's egg of an over. "I've just been reading the BBC Olympics blog and can't help but noticed Tom Fordyce bears a resemblance to KP. Any possibility the two have swapped places?"
Chris, stuck at work, Peterborough, via text on 81111
Read the latest from Tom Fordyce on the Olympics blog1141 - SA 42-1 (12 overs)
Some "Beardline" bowling from Harmy to Amla, who weaves out of the way of a bouncer. He tucks a single past Bell at short leg, then Harmy bangs in another bouncer to McKenzie which keeper Tim Ambrose has to take high above his head. "I'm also in South London and we haven't had a single drop of rain all day so far. Is a bit grey though"
Neil, London, in the TMS inbox 1137 - SA 41-1 (11 overs)
Anderson is given the second over, and McKenzie takes his score to 11 with a nudge to fine leg. Amla prods a well-judge single to Broad at backward point, while McKenzie perfects his trademark "leave outside off stump". Perhaps he could give some of the England batsmen some lessons in "how to know where your off stump is". "I saw umpire Aleem Dar in the nets the other day, he was having a bat (without pads or gloves) against some net bowlers. He played a few shots and hit the last ball over extra cover"
Former South Africa captain Shaun Pollock on TMS1132 - SA 39-1 (10 overs)
Steve Harmison takes the first over of the day, and Hashim Amla is dashed lucky that he isn't out to the very first ball as he gets an inside edge which just misses the stumps and they run a single. Harmy has four slips, a man at "fifth-and-a-half slip" and an orthodox gully for Neil McKenzie, and it looks like rain again as a few umbrellas go up. Macca does get an edge, but it trickles along the ground to James Anderson (who is the aforementioned fifth-and-a-half slip). He then tips-and-runs a single to Pietersen at mid-off. 1127: It's still a bit overcast, but the players are walking out. We're in business! "What's it with this rain malarkey? I'm in south London - Crystal Palace - and there's some sun, clouds and no rain, so why it's raining at the Oval I'll never know. They may also be playing in the South West, but everyone knows that South West weather is unreliable. Due to the gulf stream or something..."
Phillip Pope in the TMS inbox 1123: With the Olympic beach volleyball having begun on the BBC's interactive streams, I hope you're not going to desert me in your droves. However, if there's one or two specific events you want to keep track of, you can always try downloading our Monkey (or as Inspector Clouseau might put it, "downleurd our minkey") and he'll give you reminders when events are starting. It'd be nice if we had one for cricket - how about Paul Nixon as a Desktop Badger?!
Download BBC Sport's Desktop Monkey "We're going to start at 1130"
BBC cricket correspondent Jonathan Agnew on TMS1110: Any theories that the West Country always gets the worst of the English weather are being torpedoed by the fact that while it's been wet at The Oval, they're playing at Taunton...
Latest County Championship scores "That's one infuriating thing about cricket laws. If the game is in play, they will stay out in 'light drizzle', but if there is so much as a spot in the air before they take to the field it is 'Rain Stopped Play'"
Devonfrattoniser on 606
Join the debate on 606"If England's new South African-born captain delivers a win against his homeland, will the England selectors consider selecting a turncoat Aussie captain for the next Ashes series? Pattinson for captain!"
Richard Harman in the TMS inbox 1059: Covers are coming off, although Aggers warns that we're still expecting a lot of rain later in the day. 1058: Elsewhere in the world of cricket, Sri Lanka and India are into the second day of their final Test in Colombo. India were bowled out for 249 yesterday, and a half century from Kumar Sangakkara has taken the hosts to 180-4 in reply.
Live scorecard: Sri Lanka v India (day two) "The brollies are still up, but it's not raining quite as hard now - so we may be in luck"
Christopher Martin-Jenkins on TMS1050: I've got some bad news - the brollies are up, the covers are on and the square is completely covered. We won't be starting any time soon. 1040: It's a feast of live sport today - for as well as the Olympics, the new Football League season starts in England. No medals for Team GB yet, but the men's coxless four are in action as I write. Caroline Cheese is in the chair to bring you all the latest news - whether you're into judo, weightlifting or anything else.
Olympics live text commentary, with Caroline Cheese 1036: If you haven't had a look yet, Aggers has had his say on yesterday's play on the TMS Blog - and raises some interesting points about the wicketkeeping situation, such as how India might react if England recalled Chris Read (who played in the "rebel" ICL, and so might be "persona non grata" for the BCCI).
TMS BLOG: Jonathan Agnew's verdict on day two 1030: Morning, everyone. The Olympics crew have been in full swing since the middle of the night, but we know you're eager to immerse yourself back into the final Test. The match situation is that South Africa are 37-1 in their second innings, having lost captain Graeme Smith in the first over last night. They're still 85 runs behind England - but any hopes you may have of a three-day Test may be tempered by the weather forecast. Aggers said on TMS yesterday that the forecast for today wasn't great - the BBC weather pages reckon "light rain" will be the predominant weather in the Kennington area today. And if you can't take our word for it, The Weather Channel predicts light rain and wind this "PM".
BBC weather forecast for The OvalThe Weather Channel forecast
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