England vs South Africa has always been a series that is much anticipated. The games were contested keenly with both the teams emerging triumphant in the opponent’s country quite regularly. However, this series, by the looks of it, may not be that much close. It probably is not the much anticipated series. South Africa are not the same all-conquering side anymore and England under the guidance of Stokes and McCullum are on a roll. I am afraid that this series may be one-sided.
The timeframe is troubling
The first surprising fact is that the test series will get underway at Lord’s in the 3rd week of August. Usually, in England, August is the timeframe when series are expected to be in the middle or towards the end what with autumn expected to start in a few weeks and making the conditions not so conducive for cricket. Times have changed and so have the priority for English Cricket Board. English cricket’s newest showpiece event is at the centrestage now. Few years ago, County Championship was relegated to the fringes of the season and now it is the turn of Test Cricket.
Cricket is facing an all-out war from the likes of various franchise leagues around the world. IPL which has got its own window now, BBL, South African version of the IPL, the UAE league and other versions are squeezing every ounce out of every player. We may even end up in a scenario where players are engaged for 12 months but in various leagues.
New ideas needed to rejuvenate Test Cricket
ODI cricket will certainly suffer but in the long run, without proper backing, Test Cricket will cease to exist. It will have to rejuvenate itself and it requires the support of the players and the respective boards. Test cricket needs to be reduced and it must be entertaining. Enter Bazball.
It is so refreshing that England who had been a traditional side for so long that they are now being trolled for being refreshingly aggressive. English crowds are waiting for their players to wear the white dress instead of the dark blue ones. However, the South African captain, Dean Elgar will have none of it.
“The new England style is quite interesting,” said the South African captain. “But I don’t see that there’s longevity in brave cricket because I see things evening out over time in Test cricket. There was often parity between England and New Zealand [in the recent Test series] and had New Zealand taken their opportunities and their catches then things could have been very different. England would have come away with egg on their faces.”
Strong words from a skipper whose side lost the last exchange between the 2 teams in their own country 1-3. They lost to a team that was led by Joe Root. The same Root who found the going quite tough against New Zealand, India, Australia and even the West Indies. Not to forget the hammering against England Lions just a week ago.
South Africa’s good run but tougher test is awaiting
South Africa are coming off of a successful 8 months. They won a hard fought series against India, albeit at home and a creditable drawn series in New Zealand. For some reason, they have always found something to pull one over New Zealand. They are also the leading team in the current World Test Championship cycle. Against an equally in-form England, with their new found attitude, South Africa will find the going really tough. They do have the firepower in Rabadda, Ntini & Nortje and the guile of Maharaj. This is an attack that will surely send shivers down the throats of any team but with the blazing Sun and temperature in excess of 40, the pitches for the series is unlikely to have any purchase for the faster bowlers and thereby negating the threat of South Africa’s weapons.
Players to watch out for England
James Anderson. If the ball starts to swing, look no further than Anderson. All the South Africans except Elgar are inexperienced against the moving ball. They are not exposed to the swinging ball and they are not in the same class as a Smith or Amla or Kallis or de Villiers. The most talented batsman, de Kock has retired and that will have a profound effect in this series. Anderson against rookies will be fun to watch. Atleast from a England supporter’s point of view but from a South African’s, they will dread the match-up.
Root has continued with his stupendous 2021 form though the twin failures in Australia & West Indies will rankle him. Unburdened without the captaincy, he may just go onto become the batsman that everyone thought he will be. He undoubtedly is the best English batsman over the last 30 years but with such success he may go onto become the best ever English batsman.
Bairstow on the otherhand is in a hurry to reclaim lost time. Brilliant match-winning innings over the last 4 tests and with the confidence to play aggressive cricket, he is on a roll. Perhaps, he will never want to return to keeping now that his place is secured for the foreseeable future. Ben Stokes has brought into the Bazball theory but he is quite reckless in his method whereas Root and Bairstow are quite measured. With Stokes, you pretty well know that a wicket his around the corner with his hard hitting.
Players to watch out for South Africa
Keegan Petersen
He is a class act. He has got all the strokes and is a treat to watch. On his first tour of England, he will be willing to make an impact. He is the best equipped to deal with Anderson and Potts. If he has a successful series, South Africa will be in the game but if he doesn’t, they will be stream rolled by England.
Anrich Nortje
This fellow is genuinely quick. He bowls in excess of 150 KMPH regularly. With the hot weather, pitches will not help him but he is capable of circumventing the pitches with his pace. More than Rabadda, it is Nortje who is capable of stopping the Root-Bairstow juggernaut. He is stuck by injuries of late. Probably because of the stress his pace puts on his body. If he can remain injury-free and bowl at a high pace, the series will be interesting to watch.
Wrapping up the not so much anticipated series
Ever since South Africa’s readmission, England have not held sway over them like the last 3 series. Each of them won by England quite convincingly. This time, I do not see anything different. I will be bold in predicting that if the rain doesn’t play its part, England will win 3-0.
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