3rd Test. Headingley
Despite a pitch that looked slightly worn and may well take spin, South Africa went the typically 'old-school' Headingley approach of dropping Tayfield to load up even more by bringing in Vernon Philander and going to 5 seamers plus Kallis.
As a result, they probably weren't over-fussed about losing the toss and bowling first. Especially as they had an excellent first session as a unit. Philander and Donald picking up wickets to leave England 51-2. Rabada, who was the last of the front line seamers to be used, was more expensive but when he got the captain just after lunch and Pollock got Root with a wicket he fully deserved, England were 65-4. Alistair Cook must have wondered what was going on around him and Compton battled to put on 70 together by tea. Then the issue with having no frontline spinner came through as the old bowl did nothing and the partnership went on, with Cook getting his hundred and Compton getting past 50 before Pollock got him to feather the new ball behind for 68, to leave England 255-5 at the close.
Cook continued looking like he was facing a completely different attack to the rest of the England line-up. He brought up a half-century partnership with Stokes before the later was bowled by Donald for a scratchy 12. However, out of nowhere, Rabada beat Cook for pace with no further score and England had gone from 290-5 to 290-7. Knott stuck around long enough for Trueman to swing at a couple but Steyn picked up the last three wickets to bowl England out for 325.
What we do know is that Richards and Smith are both in form and by tea, they had put on 77. Smith would have been angry just after the break when he was run out dreadfully by Richards. In fact, the only England bowler that looked to be troubling the visiting batsman at all was Derek Underwood again and he got Kallis for 13. As a result, Hussain turned to Compton before the close and while Richards smashed a huge six into the Western Terrace, Compton will still be wondering how Pollock wasn't given out LBW as Day Two ended with South Africa 161-2.
It was no surprise that Hussain started the third day with Underwood and it took three balls for him to force a mistake from Richards that the skipper snaffled at slip. He then got G. Pollock caught behind before Jimmy became the first seamer to pick up a wicket and S. Pollock joined AB de Villiers with the latter still on nought and the score 184-5. Underwood picked up his second Pollock of the innings for 7 and as a result it was a surprise when Hussain called for the new ball shortly afterwards with the score 207-6. Despite Anderson's best efforts in removing De Villiers, it looked like a bad decision as the Philander/Rabada partnership then put on 48 and it took Compton to come on with his wrist spin to bowl Rabada. Underwood then made brought up his 5-for in the next over by bowling Philander and ended in innings two balls later to make England fans wonder how much bigger than 51 runs the lead would be if they had not taken the new ball.
However, England fans will be hugely encouraged about facing an all pace attack after seeing only two wickets fall to their own pace bowlers. However, Philander and Pollock were excellent with the new ball again and they were unlucky to only pick up the wicket of Hutton between them. Rabada then picked up Barrington but as play drew to a close on Day Three, the biggest moment might be De Villiers spilling a simple chance to get Cook when Donald was already celebrating.
De Villiers was made to pay. By the time Rabada got Cook, he'd got his second hundred of the game, brought up a hundred partnership with captain Hussain and the lead was already 250. By lunch the lead was up to 289 but Root would have some apologising to do over the corned beef sarnies as he had been responsible for running out his captain for 54. He did most of his apologising in the middle, by tea he had 78, Compton had 53 and the partnership was worth 119. Steyn did pick up Compton after tea but England were just setting up a target by that point. Hussain called them in with a lead of 440 just after, getting his revenge on Root by leaving him stranded on 98.
It took Hussain 15 overs to turn to Underwood but Jimmy had already got Smith with the new ball. Spin did get Kallis before the close, but it was Compton, not Underwood to land the blow.
It was no surprise that the ball was thrown straight to Underwood and it took just 20 minutes for him to get Richards, and he then got Nourse in his next over. Trueman then got De Villiers for a duck to complete his awful game and Anderson removed S. Pollock to leave them 89-6. Vernon Philander scrapped his way to an unbeaten 45 but it was the only real resistance and by 2:30pm, Underwood had completed his 10-fer and England were in the lead of the series.
Fourth Test Pitch, teams please @Aislabie @RUDI :
Despite a pitch that looked slightly worn and may well take spin, South Africa went the typically 'old-school' Headingley approach of dropping Tayfield to load up even more by bringing in Vernon Philander and going to 5 seamers plus Kallis.
As a result, they probably weren't over-fussed about losing the toss and bowling first. Especially as they had an excellent first session as a unit. Philander and Donald picking up wickets to leave England 51-2. Rabada, who was the last of the front line seamers to be used, was more expensive but when he got the captain just after lunch and Pollock got Root with a wicket he fully deserved, England were 65-4. Alistair Cook must have wondered what was going on around him and Compton battled to put on 70 together by tea. Then the issue with having no frontline spinner came through as the old bowl did nothing and the partnership went on, with Cook getting his hundred and Compton getting past 50 before Pollock got him to feather the new ball behind for 68, to leave England 255-5 at the close.
Cook continued looking like he was facing a completely different attack to the rest of the England line-up. He brought up a half-century partnership with Stokes before the later was bowled by Donald for a scratchy 12. However, out of nowhere, Rabada beat Cook for pace with no further score and England had gone from 290-5 to 290-7. Knott stuck around long enough for Trueman to swing at a couple but Steyn picked up the last three wickets to bowl England out for 325.
What we do know is that Richards and Smith are both in form and by tea, they had put on 77. Smith would have been angry just after the break when he was run out dreadfully by Richards. In fact, the only England bowler that looked to be troubling the visiting batsman at all was Derek Underwood again and he got Kallis for 13. As a result, Hussain turned to Compton before the close and while Richards smashed a huge six into the Western Terrace, Compton will still be wondering how Pollock wasn't given out LBW as Day Two ended with South Africa 161-2.
It was no surprise that Hussain started the third day with Underwood and it took three balls for him to force a mistake from Richards that the skipper snaffled at slip. He then got G. Pollock caught behind before Jimmy became the first seamer to pick up a wicket and S. Pollock joined AB de Villiers with the latter still on nought and the score 184-5. Underwood picked up his second Pollock of the innings for 7 and as a result it was a surprise when Hussain called for the new ball shortly afterwards with the score 207-6. Despite Anderson's best efforts in removing De Villiers, it looked like a bad decision as the Philander/Rabada partnership then put on 48 and it took Compton to come on with his wrist spin to bowl Rabada. Underwood then made brought up his 5-for in the next over by bowling Philander and ended in innings two balls later to make England fans wonder how much bigger than 51 runs the lead would be if they had not taken the new ball.
However, England fans will be hugely encouraged about facing an all pace attack after seeing only two wickets fall to their own pace bowlers. However, Philander and Pollock were excellent with the new ball again and they were unlucky to only pick up the wicket of Hutton between them. Rabada then picked up Barrington but as play drew to a close on Day Three, the biggest moment might be De Villiers spilling a simple chance to get Cook when Donald was already celebrating.
De Villiers was made to pay. By the time Rabada got Cook, he'd got his second hundred of the game, brought up a hundred partnership with captain Hussain and the lead was already 250. By lunch the lead was up to 289 but Root would have some apologising to do over the corned beef sarnies as he had been responsible for running out his captain for 54. He did most of his apologising in the middle, by tea he had 78, Compton had 53 and the partnership was worth 119. Steyn did pick up Compton after tea but England were just setting up a target by that point. Hussain called them in with a lead of 440 just after, getting his revenge on Root by leaving him stranded on 98.
It took Hussain 15 overs to turn to Underwood but Jimmy had already got Smith with the new ball. Spin did get Kallis before the close, but it was Compton, not Underwood to land the blow.
It was no surprise that the ball was thrown straight to Underwood and it took just 20 minutes for him to get Richards, and he then got Nourse in his next over. Trueman then got De Villiers for a duck to complete his awful game and Anderson removed S. Pollock to leave them 89-6. Vernon Philander scrapped his way to an unbeaten 45 but it was the only real resistance and by 2:30pm, Underwood had completed his 10-fer and England were in the lead of the series.
Fourth Test Pitch, teams please @Aislabie @RUDI :
