South Africa v England, Day 4:
South Africa’s Inexorable Slide Continues
December 29th
2015
Sometime
tomorrow, barring something miraculous, South Africa will take their winless
streak to seven matches since the West Indies were overwhelmed in the New Year’s
Test. Only the wicket of AB de Villiers stands between South Africa and another
big defeat.
At the same time, it is hard to criticise England, who have done just about everything right. Those who thought that Alistair Cook was playing Father Christmas by giving South Africa only 140 overs to survive.
Even in the great blockathlon in Delhi, South Africa only survived 143 overs. Eight times in the last three years South Africa have batted out 140 overs or more and seven of those innings have led to wins. If they bat out 140 overs this time, good luck to them – an extra five overs would make no difference to the result and they will have deserved to save the Test.
However, with Steve Finn striking in the last over of the day to end a stand of 48 between de Villiers and the almost scoreless Faf du Plessis that had threatened to give South Africa hope of a near-miraculous escape, England know that they are one strike away from breaking through.
Dale Steyn is a real doubt for the 2nd Test and, some suggest maybe even the 3rd, but was asked to come out to bat for the last three balls of the day. The most likely outcome is that England’s bowlers will gain a boost early in the morning and the loss of a competent tail-ender who could help to lead resistance if the remaining recognised batsmen can combine in a major stand. It was not exactly a vote of confidence in JP Duminy who should have come in next, but who has only reached 20 twice in his last 11 innings. The England bowlers will feel confident that they can remove Steyn and Duminy inside the first hour; if they do, South Africa will be in desperate straits.
England will want to strike early, but will also look to Moeen Ali to remove the tail although, in this Test, Steve Finn has been England’s wrecking ball, striking devastating blows when required.
England have dominated all four days so far, by differing margins: one more good day, possibly even just one more good session and they will go one up in the series and leave South Africa with a series of substantial headaches and just two days to resolve them.
Day 4 to England
Key man of the day: Steve Finn
Key man on Day 5: Moeen Ali.
For most
of the morning it seemed that the only plan that South Africa had was, at
various moments, to hurry or to delay the declaration. No attempt was made to
win, or at least attack for wickets. The main South African tactic seemed to be
to let the England batsmen commit suicide against Dane Piedt and occasional
bowlers.
At the
same time, Alistair Cook missed a trick: why he did not declare when Chris
Woakes fell, at 315-8, with the lead past 400, one will never know. This would
have sent the message to the South Africans “we set the agenda – you cannot
bowl us out”.
At the same time, it is hard to criticise England, who have done just about everything right. Those who thought that Alistair Cook was playing Father Christmas by giving South Africa only 140 overs to survive.
Even in the great blockathlon in Delhi, South Africa only survived 143 overs. Eight times in the last three years South Africa have batted out 140 overs or more and seven of those innings have led to wins. If they bat out 140 overs this time, good luck to them – an extra five overs would make no difference to the result and they will have deserved to save the Test.
However, with Steve Finn striking in the last over of the day to end a stand of 48 between de Villiers and the almost scoreless Faf du Plessis that had threatened to give South Africa hope of a near-miraculous escape, England know that they are one strike away from breaking through.
Dale Steyn is a real doubt for the 2nd Test and, some suggest maybe even the 3rd, but was asked to come out to bat for the last three balls of the day. The most likely outcome is that England’s bowlers will gain a boost early in the morning and the loss of a competent tail-ender who could help to lead resistance if the remaining recognised batsmen can combine in a major stand. It was not exactly a vote of confidence in JP Duminy who should have come in next, but who has only reached 20 twice in his last 11 innings. The England bowlers will feel confident that they can remove Steyn and Duminy inside the first hour; if they do, South Africa will be in desperate straits.
England will want to strike early, but will also look to Moeen Ali to remove the tail although, in this Test, Steve Finn has been England’s wrecking ball, striking devastating blows when required.
England have dominated all four days so far, by differing margins: one more good day, possibly even just one more good session and they will go one up in the series and leave South Africa with a series of substantial headaches and just two days to resolve them.
Day 4 to England
Key man of the day: Steve Finn
Key man on Day 5: Moeen Ali.
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