South African bowlers make inroads in Test

Pollock’s own Test career was cut short in 1970, after just 23 matches in which he had already scored 2,256 runs, including seven hundreds, by an anti-apartheid boycott that saw South Africa exiled from official global cricket for over two decades.

Anderson’s spell of four wickets for four runs in 16 balls meant they were all out barely half an hour into the day’s play.

But England collapsed immediately to 3-2, before Root’s fearless rally.

THIS is Rahkeem Cornwall – the HUGE West Indian cricketer who makes pie-eating keeper Wayne Shaw look small.

Dean Elgar (38no) and Hashim Amla (23no) then steered the tourists to 75-1 in their second innings – James Anderson (1-13) improving his stellar record at the ground by removing Heino Kuhn (eight). Faf du Plessis is the sort of player who sprinkles hard knocks over his cereals in the morning and will be out to inspire a reaction from his wounded side; South Africa have not lost a Test series in England in nearly 20 years and the battle to preserve that record will now intensify. Kuhn departed for 8 as he edged one to the second slip and gave James Anderson his sixth wicket of the match. His last four Test innings against England – all in England – are 61, 35, 52 and 19 not out.

The spectators were quickly hushed, though, when England openers Alastair Cook and Keaton Jennings were both gone with only three runs scored.

Gary Ballance temporarily stopped the rot with Root, taking the score to 86, before he was cleaned up by Philander.

For England fans who were looking forward to a new era under Joe Root’s captaincy with excitement, based on Root’s ability to inspire all and sundry with the positive approach he has taken to his batting in his career so far, many were left unhappy with his first choice of starting XI.

The past two days used to be called an even contest, bat versus ball, the very basis of Test match cricket but over time with the demands of broadcasters and accountants it became imperative for a match to last the full duration regardless of result or quality.

That de Kock brings out a more youthful side of Amla is evident in shorter formats, where Amla plays with so much freedom that he has recently been criticised for recklessness.

It was a fearless fighting effort from Root but England needed more than a cameo, as his team-mates failed to support him. The likes of Moeen Ali and Liam Dawson could not do much and surrendered meekly. Maharaj was also effective in seaming conditions with 3-21.

Another area of concern is the order of the batting lineup, which was shoddy at best in the first test. Du Plessis will need to utilize his batters’ strengths and preferred positions depending on the outcome of the toss.

At Lord’s, South Africa bemoaned missed chances in the field.

At 3-2, Root relieved some of the tension with three off his first ball and reeled off three boundaries in one Philander over, including a perfectly-balanced cover drive. Anderson then needed no assistance when he caught and bowled Morris (36). Joe Root said he would have bowled.

His technique dictates that he so likely to be trapped on the crease coming forward, as he was in the first innings at Lord’s, that all top fast bowlers seem able to set him up for doing so.

“We are up against it but we will dust ourselves down and try to get back in the game”.

Root’s dismissal in the afternoon session, edging behind after going hard at Morne Morkel, was to precipitate the collapse that saw his team lose their final seven wickets for 62 runs. Elgar and Amla are world class players.