Prize Fight
By Gaurang
July 16 2012
England's Test series against South Africa is the main event of the English cricketing calendar, and quite an exciting prospect even for neutral fans who don't have a "dog in the fight".
There are many interesting match-ups to get excited over. Of course the big story is the battle for the No. 1 spot in Test cricket rankings. A South African win by any margin 3-0, 2-0, 2-1 or 1-0 should see them snatching the title from England. This will make the matches essentially the World Championship of Test cricket, and thus theoretically, compulsive viewing. Of course, last summer the title was also on line, but the one-sided nature of the series, made it less than ideal viewing, especially later in the series, and especially in light of the abject manner in which the Indians threw in the towel. One hopes that is not repeated this time.
For nuetral cricket fans other battles within the battle also beckon. One such is the battle between two of the best fast bowling units in Test cricket today. Even with the loss of speedster Marchant de Lange to injury, South Africa possess a formidable pace battery in Dale Steyn, Vernon Philander, and Morne Morkel, backed up by the indefatigable Jacques Kallis. England too, have a very good pace quartet suited admirably for their home conditions, with sufficient back up talent, in case of injury or total loss of form, plus in Greame Swann they have a spinner at least a class above South Africa's Imran Tahir.
South Africa will miss the calming presence of the injured Mark Boucher behind the stumps, but in a perverse way this may actually help them, in that AB DeVilliers will now keep, and open up a slot for another frontline batsman. This being a short-term assignment, one hopes it will not affect DeVilliers form with the bat too much.
Another battle within the battle will be between the head coaches of each team. Andy Flower for England and Gary Kirsten for South Africa. What is about dour left-handed batsmen that makes them such successful coaches? In fact the three best of the past decade all fit that profile if you add ex-Indian and Black Cap coach John Wright. Under Flower England have been magnificent, despite a huge stumble in the UAE against Pakistan. Flower has led England to home and away Ashes triumphs, the T20 World Cup title, the No. 1 spot in Test rankings and within sniffing distance of the No. 1 spot in ODIs as well.
The battle between the two captains, both left handed openers, will be another intriguing sub plot, and the match up between the batting line ups consisting of Cook, Trott, Bell, Pietersen and Bopara and Petersen, Amla, Kallis, De Villiers, Rudolph, and Duminy is quite intriguing too. So for the this nuetral fan, it is a mouth watering prospect, and I look forward to true battle royal. Let the best side win.
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2012:07:31:01:30:14 by Birbal.
Thus the picture of a bloodied South African coach...
It is very tough to call, but the South African lower order seem flaky and even with Duminy at 7 it could be 6 out all out. If Swann is fit, England will have a very long batting line up.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2012:07:17:19:05:35 by shilpa.
Quote:Birbal
home of world cup pressure?... what is that?
that should read OR instead of "of"
they do not have home pressure ( SA struggles more to win at home)
OR
World cup pressure.....always choke
Looks almost subcontinental... Philander has NOT played in the subcontinent...only after that can we get his true worth..
What batting by Hashim Amla... is it just me, but he reminds me so much of a young VVS Laxman... a bit less elegant and bit more solid in defence... but same languid ease at crease...
VVS looked like he had was just taking guard when he returned after making 281... similarly Amla looked like he had just played a few in the nets when he walked back on 311..