I thought that the South African fightback was an enthralling one and would have been a good advertisement for Test cricket, with the accurate, lively bowling from both spin and pace and gutsy batting if not for the stupendously flat pitch which diluted the contest in the third innings. Nonetheless, Smith and McKenzie batted extremely well with the former surely taking a large step to prove his opening credentials to the English media who seem inable to watch any cricket other than that either involving or taking place in England. Amla also batted with some dogged determination after being targeted with the short ball.
England's bowling was a mixture of good, lively bowling with unnerving stamina, especially from Anderson and Sidebottom, fighting through some back stiffness to regain some good form in the bowling action despite obvious discomfort, and some sloppy and thoughtless bowling from Broad and Monty respectively. Broad, once more, showed his inadequacies as a Test bowler by going for 3.00 runs per over without picking up a wicket. He let the pressure go far too often by bowling straight long hops rather than the outswinging, rising length ball which will be his main tool of destruction if he is to one day spearhead the Test attack. The Skysports commentators were all too keen to praise the superb intelligence of Broad for using the cross seam rather than the thoughtlessness of not sticking to a threatening line and lengths. Speaking of thoughtless bowling, I think Monty was highly disappointing on a track on which he should have been a potent wicket taking threat. It was not good thinking to bowl at his usual 55-57mph speed when it became obvious early that good ol' fashion 'f and g' (flight and guile) was the more intelligent path on a slow pitch which aided spin and batsmen not willing to take undue risks such as play a cut shot to a bouncing delivery or lunge either forward or back. The excuse that 'he is learning' cannot be used forever and Monty needs to become a bowler who could write novels about his thinking at the crease, not just his quirky appeals, celebrations and personality.
On to the next Test at Headingley, I think that England should, perhaps controversially, drop Stuart Broad for Andrew Flintoff. Broad's batting has been an asset for England as of late and his swing will no doubt be useful, but I simply think that a good performance from Flintoff with the ball > one from Broad, with the former also more likely. I also think that the runs which Broad leaks in Test cricket could prove vital in what I predict to be quite a low scoring contest in which each innings only has a couple of top order partnerships of note. I think that Simon Jones needs to be given notification by the ECB that his performances have not gone unnnoticed, lest he loses motivation, as he did at Glamorgan. All else aside, 29 wickets at 13.27 is worthy of selection for someone who has proved himself at Test level in England and I hope he keeps it up. Perhaps he should be brought to train with the team, if Worcestershire don't have a game, as with Flintoff before this Test.
manee added 1 Minutes and 12 Seconds later...
86 overs. Those are the games which shorten a player's career.
He doesn't play ODI cricket and is a spinner. 86 overs will not do Monty harm, especially if he has learnt from the experience.
manee added 2 Minutes and 39 Seconds later...
It would have been worth not enforcing the follow on, just to give their bowlers a break. Get 200 quick runs. there's 550, chase that in 5 sessions.
I don't think England could have predicted that the pitch would 'die' after its liveliness in South Africa's first innings. England went for the quick kill and despite it not paying off, I felt that it was the correct option. As Nasser pointed out on commentary, bowlers have got used to back to back Tests and although this particular turnover will be of slightly increased stress; it was a calculated risk due to the situation.
Collys batting form can't be carried, let's blow away the saffies.
