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England vs South Africa: The beginning of a 'real' series
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Articles -
From the coaching manual
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Wednesday, 18 July 2012 17:10 |
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Contributed by Nick Young
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(1152 views) |
 With just a day to go before the most anticipated part of a rain-hit English cricketing summer, England’s selectors have gone for what is probably the safest option as far as the only vacant spot in the batting line-up is concerned. At number six – a position that has not had a permanent occupant since Paul Collingwood retired – Essex all-rounder Ravi Bopara has been called up in favour of Yorkshire’s Jonny Bairstow.
Bopara has impressed with the bat in the ODIs against the West Indies and Australia, and this has earned him a place in the England squad for the first Test against South Africa at the Oval – the venue of England’s thrashing of India last year that was the last time he played in a Test match.
Indeed, Bopara would have probably got back into the Test side sooner, had a thigh injury not ruled him out of the first Test against the West Indies. Of the other batsmen in contention for the number six spot, Bairstow’s stuttering performances against the Windies mean that he is still below Bopara in the pecking-order (as stated above, it was Bopara’s injury that gave him his Test debut) while Eoin Morgan, although still a part of the ODI side, is unlikely to be given another chance at Test level unless someone gets injured.
In the bowling department, there have been concerns about star spinner Graeme Swann – he was rested for the ODI series against Australia and has been suffering from an elbow injury. However, the man who South Africa’s Ashwell Prince has acknowledged as the potential difference between the two sides is reckoned to be match-fit and is in the squad. He needs just five more wickets to draw level with the great Jim Laker as England’s most successful off-spinner. Tim Bresnan has also had injury concerns (also with his elbow) but he too has been ruled fit. With England set on a policy of playing four bowlers, it is unlikely that either would be risked if they were not fully fit. This means that Bresnan is once again one of a possible three (the others being Graham Onions and Steven Finn) to accompany first-choice pacemen James Anderson and Stuart Broad.
 As far as South Africa are concerned, their preparation has been hampered by the weather and they have already suffered a major blow in the form of a freak accident that ended wicketkeeper Mark Boucher’s international career. He was struck in the eye by a bail while keeping in the tour match against Somerset, and he leaves a big gap in the South African team which is hoping to replace England as the top team in the ICC’s Test rankings. He was replaced behind the stumps by AB de Villiers for the South Africans’ second tour match, which was drawn thanks to the weather. As a result, South Africa’s bowlers have not bowled much in English conditions and this could be another point in England’s favour – especially with this being just a three - Test series.
As many commentators (myself included) have already said, it’s a shame that such an important series is only going to last for three Tests. The Australian ODI series that took place instead of an extended Test series has in the event delighted us English fans who have once again been able to experience something we were only able to dream of for so many years – thrashing the Aussies!
Hopefully England’s winning ways will continue into the Test arena against the only team who look like they might be able to beat us at home.
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