The 2012 Test line-up probably picks itself, give or take the last seamer decision. However it's interesting to look back over the past twenty years since South Africa returned to international cricket and pick the England players who have excelled at home against the Proteas. How many are still around this week? I haven't necessarily gone for the highest scorers or meanest bowlers, although stats inevitably tell part of the story. There have been 17 Tests between the two nations: six victories apiece and five draws, so who have been the central protagonists?
For openers, I have selected two left-handers but neither is Alastair Cook. Back in 2003, Marcus Trescothick was in mixed form. In the early games, he struggled a bit and England were 2-1 down going into the Oval finale. There'd been a few double-hundreds from the opposition already but this time he turned the tables with a 219 and final day 69 not out to clinch the series-saving victory. His partner is someone I was never a real fan of: Mark Butcher. In eight games across 1998 and 2003, he scored 744 runs at 53 apiece, including two centuries. In the latter series, he batted at three but his exploits in 1998, especially when he held the first innings together in the Fifth Test on the way to a narrow triumph earns him the place.
Kevin Pietersen - if he decides the fantasy match fits in with his hectic schedule! - is my number three. He was prolific four years ago, scoring 152 in the first game and 100 in the last. Ian Bell was shunted around the order a bit that summer but he shared a partnership of 286 with KP in that Lord's Test and was unlucky to be caught and bowled for 199. Alec Stewart competed in 13 of the 17 clashes, aggregating 873 runs, more than any other Englishman. He was another man who moved easily up and down the order from opener to number six, taking the gloves and, in 1998, he additional responsibility as captain. His best against the Saffers was the 164 which saved his side from near certain innings defeat at Old Trafford in '98. Paul Collingwood completes my top six. He only played three matches last time out, but his 232 runs included an excellent battling century in the Edgbaston defeat.
Dominic Cork has claims to be the all-rounder but I've gone for Andrew Flintoff, even if his bowling proved very expensive: 20 wickets at more than 50 apiece! However, he notched more than 500 runs in 10 Tests spread over three series. The highlight was his 142 at almost a run a ball at Lord's nine summers ago. South Africa has secured a mammoth first innings lead so it was all about trying to prevent an innings defeat. He hadn't scored when England were reduced to 208-6, still 300 runs short. Freddie decided to go down fighting and took the attack to Pollock and Ntini. No fairytale, Bothamesque ending, but a great performance nonetheless.
The South African batsmen have often helped themselves to some big scores, and so most English bowlers' averages look rather poor. James Anderson has taken 30 wickets at almost 37 and Darren Gough 29 at 35, but both have been the best fast bowlers over a period, even if in the aforementioned thumping in 2003, they went for 217 runs between them. However, instead of Anderson I shall pick a man who played just one match against this opposition. Devon Malcolm was brought in for the final Test in 1994 and, in the second innings took a barely credible 9-57, missing out only on Cullinan's wicket. Game won, series saved.
Monty Panesar has proved to be the best spinner in contests where seam tends to have dominated on both sides. He took a steady 13 wickets in four matches last time out. Strange to think that Graeme Swann had yet to be introduced to Test cricket at that time. However the most successful bowler against South Africa is the often unsung hero, Angus Fraser. Not the quickest but he was a great stock bowler, a bit like Bresnan. Not only did Gus take 31 wickets in only 7 matches in the '90s but his average was an excellent 23.77. At Trent Bridge in 1998 he nabbed a 'five-for' in each innings, then made it three in a row in the Headingley victory a few weeks later.
So my Eleven reads: Trescothick, Butcher, Pietersen, Bell, Stewart(*+), Collingwood, Flintoff, Gough, Fraser, Panesar, Malcolm.
OK, so three rabbits at the end, but you can't have everything! I'll examine the South African stars next.
