Proteas’ bowlers dismantle shell-shocked Aussies

South Africa’s bowling attack underlined their status as the “world’s best”, with a sensational display of verve and vigour, in a Test match that will reverberate throughout the ages. 

Dale Steyn’s match winning spell of high quality bowling (4-55 from 20 overs) after tea, ripped the heart out of a desperate Australia; leading the Proteas to a 231-run victory and levelling the 3-Test series 1-1.

South Africa were unrecognisable from the rabble of Pretoria. Steyn, Vernon Philander and Morne Morkel blew Michael Clarke’s team away, clinching a famous victory that will be remembered for as long as this great game is played.

The triumvirate found their mojo after a lacklustre display at Centurion, particularly Morkel, who gave the tourists a torrid time – making them duck and weave; hitting them regularly – with his most aggressive and best performance for South Africa yet.

Morkel’s first innings bowling was thrilling to watch (3-63 from 17 0vers); his aggression and accuracy was unrelenting. He intimidated a rattled Australia – so used to handing out such treatment, however, their ineptitude with the willow was shocking – one would be forgiven for thinking they were England in disguise.

The Proteas’ extracted more from a wicket, although lightly covered with grass, was flat and slow, they did manage to get the kookaburra to move through the air and off the seam. The decision not to play a specialist spinner seemed careless, especially when Nathan Lyon took 5-46 in 46 overs in the first innings, but was ultimately, of no consequence.

Australia’s seamers laboured whilst South Africa’s thrived. Johnson could not summon the feats of his previous six Test performances and was tame. Peter Siddle and Ryan Harris were workmanlike and didn’t threaten, especially when the ball lost it’s shine and went soft.

If Morkel’s ferocious first innings effort set up the match, it was Steyn’s perfect exhibition of fast, swing bowling – Australia lost 5-16 in 10-over spell after tea – that defined the match.

Steyn’s ability to get the ball to reverse made the difference and Brad Haddin’s deja vu dismissal, not only highlighted Australia’s inability to deal with such skilled bowling, but also their bowlers’ impotence in the swing department.

Philander’s role in the victory cannot be underestimated. He backed Steyn and Morkel up with economic bowling (2-39 from 17 overs) after being expensive in the first innings, ending the match with one wicket more than Morkel.

This victory was no mean feat: South Africa took twenty wickets without a specialist spinner and only 3 front-line bowlers – Wayne Parnell injured his groin and was not able to bowl in the second innings.

With the match hanging in the balance, a storm brewing which threatened to washout the fifth day’s play; the dropped catches and the frustration that comes when decisions go against the team, South Africa held their nerve and kept their heads while Australia lost theirs and the match.

 

Smith loses the plot at the toss

“When you win the toss – bat. If you are in doubt, think about it, then bat. If you have very big doubts, consult a colleague – then bat.” W. G. Grace

The chance to lay down an early marker at the beginning of a Test Series is done one way: win the toss, bat; score big in the first innings and asphyxiate your opponent with ‘scoreboard pressure’.

Despite Grace’s warning, his advice still falls on deaf ears.

Graeme Smith joined Nasser Hussain and Ricky Ponting in the pantheon of poor judgements after he won the toss before the first Test at Centurion Park, and invited Australia to bat.

Widely regarded as the worst captaincy decision of all time, Hussain decided to bowl on a superb pitch for batting, in the first Test of the 2002 Ashes in Brisbane. At stumps on the first day Australia were 364/2 and England went on to lose the five-match-series 4-1.

Ponting made a similar error of judgement, which can be put down to bravado or arrogance, before the second Test of the 2005 edition in Birmingham.

During the warm-up before the start of day one, Glenn McGrath rolled his ankle playing touch rugby and was ruled out of the game. Ponting curiously put England in, describing his decision as “backing yourself”.

Michael Vaughan’s team won an epic encounter by two runs,  and ultimately, the series 2-1, regaining the Urn for the first time since 1987.

Lessons have yet to be learned, but the thinking behind those decisions are baffling, and can be traced to the muddled thinking of a scrambled brain.

South Africa’s mauling at the hands of Michael Clarke’s team was exhilarating to watch and all down to one man: Mitchell Johnson. England’s tormentor-in-chief, continued where he left off in the Ashes, with another Man-of-match performance.

The pre-series talk from the Aussie camp was ingenious and calculated. When asked if his bowling attack was stronger than South Africa’s on current form, Clarke said: Yup, I certainly do.

“From what I’ve seen from the Australian bowlers over a long period of time, I feel we have the best attack in the world.” he added.

It was a masterstroke and prompted a response almost immediately. “When you’ve played against Australia enough, you learn to sift through a lot of the bull – dot, dot, dot,” Smith said.

Smith won the toss and chose to bowl. It’s fair to discern that all the talk clouded his judgement. He attempted to stamp his side’s authority early in the series but it backfired.

What happened next was catastrophic; Australia played the Proteas’ pace attack comfortably. South Africa toiled; their fielding was amateurish, and the batsmen wilted under the duress from Johnson’s pace and aggression, losing by 281 runs.

South Africa lost the match at the toss and the tone for the series is set. The phoney war has turned into an unwanted bout of naval-gazing for Smith’s team.

The Proteas’ underestimation of Australia’s quality, has been brutally exposed and they will need to summon all their mental fortitude, to overcome the mental disintegration that engulfed this chastening defeat.

Captains everywhere should learn from Smith’s harsh lesson; when you win the toss – bat.

Silence from within deafening in KP debacle

The sham that is the fallout over the Kevin Pietersen sacking by the England and Wales Cricket Board, continues to beggar belief. Still no nearer to an explanation as to why the ECB has taken the decision to end England’s best and most influential player’s career. However, the less said in support of Pietersen by his former employers and team-mates, the more the whispers turn to rumour and innuendo.

This sorry saga has stirred up a hornets nest and there has been no let up in the criticism levelled at the ECB from former England players and celebrity fans. Ian Botham wrote a scathing attack on the game’s administrators in his Mirror column, stating that he is ”baffled”, ”exasperated” and ”disgusted”, that the ECB sought to brush the issue under the carpet without a statement issued to to the player or fans.

”The ECB can’t hide behind their blazers and wait for the fuss to die down. They can’t leave everyone to speculate why England have ditched one of their finest players.” Botham said.

The biggest supporter of Pietersen has been Piers Morgan, whose constant Twitter attacks on the ECB, new managing director, Paul Downton, former England team director, Andy Flower, captain, Alastair Cook and vice-captain, Matt Prior has gone viral. Former England captain, Michael Vaughan, called the decision to sack Pietersen ”madness”.

Morgan called the ECB ”clowns” and Cook, the ”worst captain in the history of English cricket”, ”treacherous” and a ”weasel”. The opinion of many pundits, former players and commentators, is that the full story is not being told. The ECB’s statement needs to be transparent because the question everyone is asking is: What did Pietersen do exactly, to warrant his omission, and Why the omerta?

Despite all the mad frenzy surrounding talk of treachery, backstabbing and dislike amongst many in the England squad, Cook was agitated during press conferences in Australia, during the One-Day-International series, when quizzed on his relationship with his star player. Rumours of confrontation before the fifth Test match in Sydney, have been dismissed by all parties, but it has been acknowledged that Pietersen had questioned the ”overbearing” nature of Flower’s leadership in a team meeting, called by senior players in Melbourne, after the defeat in the fourth Test.

It has been revealed in the Telegraph that Cook and Pietersen did disagree over training, the next day; Cook wanted to hold a physical fitness session, blaming their defeats on not being fit, Pietersen disagreed, feeling that the team was as fit as at any time in his career. This would not have gone down too well with either, captain or coach, and only caused more resentment between them.

For whatever the reasons are for his dismissal, his reintegration, had obviously not worked. Graeme Swann, known not to be one of the South African’s allies, felt differently and said: ”He made a huge effort to improve the dressing room. I saw or heard no issues with him in Australia this winter, his approach was exceptional.”

Swann added: ”Clearly, Kevin must have upset people enough, for the England hierarchy to decide he is no longer wanted.”

Swann had been accused of targeting his former team-mate when he made disparaging remarks about players ”heads up their own backsides”, but denied it was about Pietersen. If they were not, then who? Players don’t always all get on, so this might be seen as a rift involving other members of the squad; the tour was a disaster and there were bound to be some grumblings from within.

Perhaps the most damning verdict on this fiasco is the silence of Pietersen’s former team-mates. There has been no support or sympathies expressed towards him from anyone who was on the tour down under, other than Swann. It is known that Pietersen was respected by the younger players but the antipathy still runs deep with the veterans of the team. Not a peep from Stuart Broad, James Anderson, Ian Bell, Prior, Cook or Flower.

The less established players, players coming into the fold and players playing for their places. Michael Carberry, Monty Panesar, Tim Bresnan, Chris Tremlett, Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow, Garry Balance, Ben Stokes, Scott Borthwick, Boyd Rankin, James Treadwell and Steven Finn (it must be assumed due to non-existent  public support) have not spoken out. This could be for fear of mistrust, and do not want to rock the boat and put their careers on the line for a doomed man. The silence is deafening and speaks louder than words, the verdict clear and brutal: you’re not welcome anymore.

Liverpool face test of resolve and fortitude

Liverpool’s match against Arsenal on Saturday takes on more importance after dropping points at the Hawthorns. Liverpool have a chance to keep ahead of the chasing pack with a win, though can’t afford to lose, if they hope to stay in pole position for a top four place.

Contrary to the statistical analysis, Sunday’s draw against West Bromwich Albion, was abject and has dented Liverpool’s chances of achieving their European ambition. Despite being two points clear of Everton, it will be foolish to think Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur or the Toffees, will falter in their own attempts at fourth spot, especially, when they continue to leave the door ajar.

Brendan Rodgers believes his team are still in contention for the top four, despite his sides continual state of flux: ”We’re still in a good position. We’ve been looking to average two points per game this season. This was the fifth game in a block of five and we’ve gone over our target, by taking  11 points from a possible 15.”

The results against the Gunners during the past decade make for sorry reading: Liverpool has only won 6 matches from 33, since May 2001; the last home victory in the league was in March 2007 (although they did win a Champions League tie in April 2008 at Anfield). Judging by current form and injuries to Rodgers’ squad, the ease at which Arsenal won at the Emirates in November, Sunday’s draw, other results going against, they could be equal fifth come Sunday.

Rodgers must get his tactics right; Arsenal will have most of the possession, so taking control of the midfield is vital. With the game being at home, the emphasis will be on Liverpool to attack and the manager must select a 4-3-3 formation. Steven Gerrard will play in the ‘Busquets’ role. Deciding the two other midfielders will be crucial. Rodgers cannot be outnumbered in the midfield.  Arsene Wenger will play 4-2-3-1 and Liverpool have to be on equal footing to compete.

Raheem Sterling is in outstanding form, as is Jordan Henderson; the decision will come down to Joe Allen’s fitness and whether or not, Philippe Coutinho plays central. Should Allen be fit, he will start, adding defencive cover for Gerrard, but he will not last the full 90 minutes, meaning one of Henderson or Coutinho will be on the bench.

The diminutive Brazilian adds craft to Allen and Henderson’s graft; a player with vision for killer passes, which Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge thrive on. Should Liverpool be defending a lead, Henderson, will be the perfect replacement to break up play and share the ‘water-carrying’ provided by Allen.

Wenger will exploit the wide channels and Aly Cissokho, as he did at the Emirates and this will be the weak link. Jon Flanagan could move back to the left and Martin Kelly should replace Cissokho, strengthening the right. Sturridge will start on the left and double back in defence. A lack of centre halves means Kolo Toure plays. There can be no room for mistakes or wrong tactics, Liverpool must be resolute and believe they can win: they have no choice.