South Africa v England: 4th Test, Day 2 - South Africa’s Best Day of the Series

 

South Africa v England: 4^th Test, Day 2

South Africa’s Best Day of the Series

 

January 24^th  2016

 

South Africa, undoubtedly, have had their best day of the series. Day 3 will show whether or not they can convert that into a consolation win.

Barring a calamitous collapse – something that England’s uncertain batting line-up cannot rule out – South Africa will need to bat to set a target on the fourth day. It is not impossible that, if the batsmen can avoid the odd stinker of a delivery – the one that got Nick Compton almost rolled along the ground – England can get close to parity. If that happens, the draw will have to be favourite, but South Africa will recall with a shudder how badly setting a target in a near-parity situation went for them in the 3^rd Test.

Resuming at 329-5, South Africa were in real trouble at 336-7 inside the first half hour. All logic suggested that they would be limited to 370-380 at very best and probably 350 and that England had a chance to make up for some dreadfully deficient play on Day 1. One has learnt though that in this series things are never so simple. De Kock and Abbott added a round 50. Piedt and de Kock a demoralising 82. More chances were missed and England, in general, looked utterly defeated.

The chief sufferer was Moeen Ali, who came in for some fearful punishment as de Kock shepherded the tail towards a massive total. Even the fact that Ben Stokes took the last three wickets was scant consolation.

This match has done more than anything to push the case for Mark Footitt. The attack, lacking Steve Finn, had a depressing sameness. That bit of devil that Chris Woakes is missing to convert a very good county bowler into a wicket-taking Test bowler is just missing. Jimmy Anderson is bowling better, but is still nowhere near where he was in the UAE – difficulty coming back from injury, as he had when he returned for the World Cup, is a sure sign that a great career is coming to an end. Jimmy Anderson undoubtedly has one more summer in him, but next winter must be more uncertain and the summer after that more still. Jimmy Anderson has been far from his best and four wickets at sixty-five each has not been an unfair reflection of his results.

Loyalty had a lot to do with picking Anderson and Woakes in the same side, but many fans feared what would happen and have been proved right. Footitt or Jordan might have been erratic, but either can produce an unplayable ball from nothing. Woakes is proving steady, but little more: even if his pace has increased, it is still not high enough to get away with doing very little with the ball.

All through the day the maligned South African tail and Quentin de Kock backed up ABdV’s words with solid acts. Finally, South Africa, more by luck than by judgement, seem to be getting their side right. Their team is nowhere near as bad as it was painted: it was desperately short on confidence and England have been fortunate enough to have players who have exploited that but, when things have gone better and the confidence has started to flow, South Africa have shown flashes of what they are capable of still. England remain dreadfully inconsistent and pretty awful in the final Test of series over far too long for it to be down to chance.

Several England batsmen need an innings on Day 3. Alex Hales appeared to have decided to play his natural game and hit the ball if it was there to hit. For a time it worked, but he needs to learn judgement. Sir Geoffrey was furious about his dismissal – perhaps a little unfairly so. Nick Compton got a real stinker of a ball but, when people look back at the tour in six months time they will see another start and another dismissal. His returns have declined progressively through the series. Crease occupation has not produced runs. There is a real case for swapping Compton and Hales in the order and letting the former see off the shine and the latter play with more freedom, but the knives are out for both. Cook, Taylor and Moeen are all short of runs in the series. With Adil Rashid doing great things in the Big Bash League – yes, T20 is not Test cricket, but he is getting runs and a lot of cheap wickets, which speaks volumes for his improving control – Moeen knows that his place at #8 may not be secure much longer. Even Jonny Bairstow knows that while he misses chances he will need a lot of runs to compensate and, in this Test, his deficit is well over two hundred runs: there are plenty of questions about his right to the gloves and only the even greater doubts about Jos Buttler keep him safe for now.

Day 2, to South Africa.