On paper, the England v South Africa Test series looked a very tight affair, with little to separate the sides in batting or bowling. However, the much-vaunted home attack, instead of swing, seaming and spinning their way to victory, could capture just two - count 'em, TWO - wickets in the whole match!
Coasting at 170-1, Cook and Trott calmly accumulating at the crease, things were looking up for Strauss and co, even if the skipper had lasted a mere four balls. Even at stumps on day one, 267-3 looked to be a solid foundation for possible victory. However, once Dale Steyn removed Cook (for 115) and Bopara (a duck), the innings went downhill and 385 all out looked like a lost opportunity. Nothing could have prepared us for the run rampage that ensued over the next few days.
In my series previews I had harked back to previous huge scores posted by the tourists, with double-centuries commonplace. Graeme Smith had played his share and, after losing Petersen for nought, he made sure his hundredth Test would be a memorable one for all the right reasons. He and Hashim Amla showed England how to play Test cricket, making even England's two and three look like amateurs. His 25th century set the scene and, even after falling unluckily to Bresnan on 131, that just brought Jacques Kallis to the middle. One of the greatest batsmen ever had suffered a miserable previous three series in England but he ripped up the history books by advancing steadily in typical Kallis style to 182 not out.
So, two big hundreds but they weren't the talking point. No, that belonged to Amla's fabulous triple-hundred, the first ever by a South African, one of very few ever made by a visiting batsman and the best in England Tests since Gooch's 333 twenty-two years ago. People have advocated the return of 'timeless Tests' to settle major series. Fortunately for England, that dis not apply to this one at The Oval. Had Smith not declared on 637-2, who knows how long Amla and Kallis would have continued? Possibly until the scheduled start of the Second Test. Those two have form in big partnerships. Incredibly, this was their fourth stand of 300+ and their largest. At 377, it ranks as the ninth biggest third-wicket partnership in international history. After Moeen Ali's great bowling performance in the County Championship last week, maybe more youngsters will be growing their beards, regardless of faith.
Requiring only 252 to make South Africa bat again, England must have fancied their chances of salvaging a draw in around four sessions under uncharacteristic warm London sunshine. However, when Cook became the third opener in the match to depart without scoring, the Saffer attack scented blood. Unusually, Dale Steyn was used as first-change in this game, possibly because his formidable record is less compelling against left-handers. Morne Morkel had been the leading wicket-taker in the first innings but this was to be Steyn's day. Nevertheless perhaps the killer blow came from Morkel when Pietersen failed to curb his attacking instincts. Having wrestled with some short-pitched stuff, he then missed the fast straight delivery and was bowled for 16. Strauss top-edged an attempted sweep off Imran Tahir and England's top four were gone for 67.
Bell and Bopara defended stoutly to end of play and this morning, everything rested on their shoulders. Sadly, Bopara's weren't quite broad enough. The pair had put on 50 when the Essex man hung his bat out to dry against Steyn, offering an easy catch behind. Bell remained, and Matt Prior is no fool with the bat. Taking England past 200 with no further loss was hugely encouraging for the home crowd but with the new ball imminent, Prior committed the sin of sweeping unnecessarily, edging high to Kallis at slip for an otherwise excellent 40. Soon Steyn had the new ball in his hands and within a minute his pace and movement tempted Bell into another edge to Kallis. 42 still needed and the top seven gone. Tim Bresnan and Broad were there, and, let's not forget, the Yorkshireman had never lost a Test match. Would the gods of history be shining on him again? Er, nope. While he did only what could be expected of a number eight, Steyn steamed in to dispose of Broad and Swann for a five-for, then Imran Tahir trapped Anderson LBW to finish things off. If only they had picked Monty Panesar instead for his match-saving batting!
An innings and 12 runs made for shameful viewing , but what a fabulous start for the tourists. Runs for fun and top-class bowling all-round. Now it's South Africa with four men at the top of the ICC rankings for both batting and bowling. It was England's first home defeat in tests since 2009 and suddenly their grip on that number one status is looking extremely tenuous. However, with Headingley beckoning, England need to call on the spirit of Botham and Willis a la 1981 to overcome the embarrassing reverse at The Oval. They've come back from the dead before, including series against South Africa, and I wouldn't bet against a 1-1 series result. First they need t find a way of getting Smith, Amla and Kallis out. And poor AB de Villiers didn't even get in! Could be a corker!
