It was completely unexpected. I had predicted for England to win the series 3-0 because of past history between the teams that includes 2 series wins for England in South Africa. However, South Africa have left me with egg all over my face. Their performance was incredible. Worthy of them being the top ranked team in the current WTC cycle. The surprising South African win at Lord’s is somewhat unexpected but will they be able to sustain this? It remains to be seen.
What went wrong for England?
After the impressive 4 wins on the trot, including 3 brilliant run chases, it was only expected that England will stream roll South Africa but what transpired on the field was the exact opposite. Right from the beginning, South Africa bowled to a plan. They were very well aware of the Bazball theory that England have employed successfully over the last couple of months. Countering that is important to keep England’s score to manageable proportions. This the South African bowlers did with aplomb. Having 4 fast bowlers really helped. Rabadda was at his usual best.
England were caught with no plan to counter the South African quicks. The pitch helped the bowlers and hence, it called for sensible batting and not for Bazball. Instead, there was Joe Root of all the players attempting a reverse scoop on the 2nd ball he faced. Playing aggressive cricket is onething but playing rubbish cricket is stupid. England must have respected the conditions and the opponent bowlers. They failed in the first innings and must have corrected their mistakes second time around.
Instead, the English batsmen continued to play the same way. Ofcourse, they found success playing this way in not one or two games but in four successive games and were unlikely to jettison it but the conditions, the opposition and the deficit called for cricket of attrition. That England failed to find a secondary method must worry them. Last year, they were way too circumspect and this year, they are way too flamboyant. There is a middle path that they must tread when the situation calls for.
“We’re heading into mixed messages if I say anything different. Everyone’s so aligned in the dressing-room, from the management to the players, about how we operate.” Said Stokes.
Ben Stokes’s madness
Everyone is aware of the talent Stokes possess. With the bat and with the ball. With the pressure of captaincy, if he has decided to bowl less, so be it. However, it is with the bat that he is so disappointing. Not for the first time this summer has he been playing recklessly. Nowadays, when he bats, it looks like he left his brain in the dressing room itself. He tries to hit every delivery to the boundary. Stokes repeatedly went down the wicket to the pace and bounce of Jansen and was found wanting. Just because he as the captain has come up with a plan to bat in a certain way, it does not mean he can play stupid cricket. There is a fine difference between madness and aggression. The sooner he realises that the better it will be for England and for him personally.
The absence of Zak Crawley
I don’t know what do the English selectors see in Crawley? Multiple low scores and an inability to last more than a session, for an opener, these are damning statistics. England have another inexperienced opener at the other end whom they are willing to support for awhile. For them to have an opener who will not last more than a session at one end, it will be disastrous. Root and Bairstow bailed them over the summer but once they fail, the results are clear as crystal. Perhaps, the time has come for Crawley to be put out of his misery.
South Africans must be thrilled
Just over a year ago, South Africa was ranked as the 7th team in the ICC rankings when they went to West Indies. I for one thought that they will lose the series in West Indies but to their credit, they came away unscathed. Now, they are leading the current WTC cycle with series wins over India at home and a creditable drawn series away to New Zealand. They have topped that with a win against England who were until now, played unbelievable cricket.
Only three from the current squad had played in England. It means that they are severely short of experience and also of quality batsmen whom the opposition fears. During the days of Amla, Kallis, Smith and de Villiers, all they had to do was turn up on the day of the game and runs are there for the taking. The current South African team does not have anyone of that pedigree. Yet, they believe in collective effort. If not for the runs from Keshav, Nortje and Jansen, this game would have been a lot closer.
The impact of Nortje
I had pointed out before the series that Nortje’s pace will the chief weapon that can unsettle Root and Bairstow. Nortje proved how important he is to the bowling attack. He rattled Bairstow’s stumps in the first innings through sheer pace and picked him in the second dig as well. Though he was expensive, the wickets that he took were of top and middle order batsmen. Dean Elgar will not mind the runs he gives away if he can consistently pick up Bairstow and Root cheaply during the series.
“My job is to try and bowl quick, to try to bring energy and momentum for the team. It is generally later on in the day when it happens.”
The utilisation of Keshav Maharaj
Keshav Maharaj’s contribution in this game was incredible. Gone are the days when a Paul Harris or Nicky Boje or Pat Symcox were only required to bowl flat and keep one end tight so that the faster bowlers can be given rest. Also, ofcourse, to speed up the overrate. Keshav is not in the same league. He is a genuinely good spinner. His record speaks for himself. Close to 4 wickets per test after playing on spin unfriendly pitches most of his career. Here he was bowling only the 8th over of the 2nd innings with fielders around the bat. He created an immediate impact and literally dashed England’s hopes.
To end with surprising South African win at Lord’s
Though South Africa have won the first game, I still think that England remain the favourites to win the series. The next couple of tests may not help the bowlers which will help the England batsmen in their aggressive approach.
I leave with the words of Dean Elgar “What we’ve laid down over the last year has been pretty solid,” he said. “It hasn’t been fake, it’s been unique. It’s been real. It hasn’t been far-fetched. These are our team goals that I have with the coaches. It’s not unrealistic. It’s pretty achievable. As a player group, we are a special bunch and we play bloody good cricket when we are doing well.”
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