Preview:First Test South Africa vs England

Experienced South Africa all-rounder Jacques Kallis will not be able to bowl in the first test against England, captain Graeme Smith said on Tuesday.

Jacques Kallis of South Africa stretches during a South Africa Nets Session at Centurion Park on December 15, 2009 in Centurion, South Africa.

Kallis has fractured rib cartilage and will play as a specialist batsman only, weakening an attack that will rely on fast bowlers Dale Steyn, Makhaya Ntini and Morne Morkel and spinner Paul Harris.

“We obviously won’t have the luxury of Jacques bowling, but the other bowlers know they have to take responsibility and they’ve been picked to do their jobs well,” Smith told a news conference.

“It’s been a lengthy period since we last played test cricket but we have a very mature squad who have enjoyed a lot of success and they know what to do. We are as best-prepared as we can be, there’s been a good calm, focus and intensity about our preparations.”

England captain Andrew Strauss leads a team including four players born in South Africa, himself, batsmen Kevin Pietersen and Jonathan Trott, and wicketkeeper Matt Prior.

“The fact there are South African-born players in the team is not an issue for us, we know we have the best 15 players in England here. The fact some of them were born somewhere else doesn’t come into it, it’s a non-issue,” Strauss said.

England will delay naming their side until Wednesday morning but Strauss said he had a full squad to choose from.

“We’re very happy with the way Jimmy Anderson has pulled up, his knee niggle has never stopped him from bowling at any stage and he has progressed the way we wanted.

“Graeme Swann’s side is still niggling him but as a spinner he does not put as much strain on it as a seamer and it’s something he’s more than capable of playing through,” Strauss said.

FRONTLINE BOWLERS

England may call up all-rounder Luke Wright and play just five specialist batsmen, or name six specialist batsmen and just four frontline bowlers.

“Obviously if the pitch is going to do a huge amount, it makes a case for playing an extra batsman, but we’re still not 100 percent sure how the pitch will play,” Strauss said.

The match will be the first for each side since the official introduction of the umpire decision review system.

“We’ll have to be smart about how we use the review system. My initial reservations about it have not gone away, but I hear the more you use it, the better it gets,” Strauss said.

“I think the review system still needs to prove its worth,” Smith said. “I’m a little bit sceptical about it but we’ll have to be positive.”

Ntini plays his 100th test and Smith praised him not only as a fast bowler but also a significant figure in a troubled country still grappling with profound racial issues.

“Transformation is ongoing, it’s something we have to keep working on, but Makhaya has been a real success case and it’s been great to have been part of his career,” Smith said.

“He’ll tell you that his success is down to a lot of hard work, he’s had his ups and downs but he’s always met them with 100 percent commitment.

“Makhaya has become the spearhead of our attack and I’ve been very grateful for his energy and commitment as a leader.

“He’s a vibrant person and he’s played a prominent role not just in this team but in South Africa,” Smith added.

McGain debuts as Australia bat in final Test

Ricky Ponting won his sixth toss in a row against South Africa and decided to have a bat on what he contently termed “a good wicket” in Cape Town.

Jacques Kallis has spent the better part of the last couple days trying to put everyone at ease as to how he was made captain in the absence of an injured Graeme Smith, but there was still a fair amount of apparent reluctance. Having to field first against a form line-up is no envious way to start a Test South Africa need to win to avert a whitewash.

Phillip Hughes avoids a bouncer.

Spin has played more of a role at Newlands than any other venue in the country and with Marcus North failing to come up from his illness the journeyman leg spinner Bryce McGain was finally handed a debut. The last few months have not been short of drama for McGain – his first tour with Australia was cut short in October when he was sent home from India with tendon damage in his shoulder and his second trip began with a missed flight. At 36 years and 359 days, McGain has become Australia’s oldest debutant since Bob Holland in 1984.

As expected, South Africa went in with a new-look opening pair of the debutant Imraan Khan and returning Ashwell Prince. The allrounder Albie Morkel makes his Test debut, replacing brother Morne.

It has been a dramatic switch for both teams since the previous series. Australia have turned around their fortunes dramatically, with rookies playing key roles, and in doing so they have managed to pass on the restless, testy cape they wore at home to South Africa. Under a steely blue Cape Town morning sky, the heat is definitely on the hosts.

Australia 1 Phillip Hughes, 2 Simon Katich, 3 Ricky Ponting (capt), 4 Michael Hussey, 5 Michael Clarke, 6 Brad Haddin (wk), 7 Andrew McDonald, 8 Mitchell Johnson, 9 Peter Siddle, 10 Bryce McGain, 11 Ben Hilfenhaus.

South Africa 1 Imraan Khan, 2 Ashwell Prince, 3 Hashim Amla, 4 Jacques Kallis (capt), 5 AB de Villiers, 6 JP Duminy, 7 Mark Boucher (wk), 8 Albie Morkel, 9 Paul Harris, 10 Dale Steyn, 11 Makhaya Ntini.

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West Indies Magnificent

England face a quest for survival after West Indies made 749 for nine declared thanks to a masterful 261 run partnership between double centurion Ramnaresh Sarwan and Denesh Ramdin.

Ramnaresh Sarwan

Sarwan fell just nine runs short of a triple century, after batting from the evening of the second day, while wicketkeeper Ramdin made 166 before being bowled by five-wicket Graeme Swann.

The West Indies score, the ninth highest innings total in a test match, sets up an unexpectedly tricky final day for Andrew Strauss’s side after they made 600 for six declared in their first innings.

No team has ever lost a test match after making such a big first innings total but West Indies will take heart from the first test when they bowled a panicking England out for 51.

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Preview: First Test Australia vs South Africa

This might be the golden phase of South African cricket “But” the ghost of Wanderers has always haunted the home side. If the Proteas want the top echelon, they have to drop this monkey off their back and change the poor record they have at Johannesburg.

As South Africa’s test record on this ground is patchy; Australia has won the last two test matches one with an innings in 2002 and their previous visit in 2006 produced a thriller with the tourists managing to chase 292 on the last day of Test match. Even India and England have comfortably won against the home side on this hostile track.

Toss will play the decisive role at Jo’bourg where since 2000 all eight Test matches have produced a result, and six of these are won by the side who had the better of coin.

The first match of the Test series will be crucial as a positive result will definitely give the winning side the psychological edge.

South Africa will go with the same winning eleven with no weak links, making them the favorites. They have the likes of Hashim Amla and Paul Harris, exciting match winners Greame Smith and Dale Steyn, trusted lieutenants Mark Boucher, Jacques Kallis, and Makayah Ntini, the nerves of steel comes in the likes of wonder kid JP Duminy.

Where as Australia will go with new faces; Philip Hughes will open with Katich, Ponting, Hussey, and Michael Clarke (unfit) will   complete the top order. Brad Haddin, who has been the new Australian hope in recent past will be holding the lower order with Andrew McDonald or Marcus North who will compete for the all rounder’s spot.

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Draw looms after Younis Triple-Century

Younis Khan took advantage of a flat pitch at the National Stadium to become only the third Pakistan batsman to score a triple hundred, steering his side out of trouble in the first test against Sri Lanka on Tuesday.

Younis ended the day on 306 not out as Pakistan reached 574 for five on the fourth day in reply to Sri Lanka’s first innings total of 644 for seven declared.

younis khan

The Pakistan captain’s marathon innings has so far spanned 731 minutes, 545 balls and included 27 fours and four sixes.

Younis and his Sri Lankan counterpart Mahela Jayawardene, who scored 240, also set a new benchmark as it was the first time rival captains had scored double hundreds in the same test.

Younis reached his triple ton after reverse sweeping Muttiah Muralitharan and running three runs.

In an impressive display of endurance and concentration, Younis bowed his head after reaching the landmark while the small crowd gathered at the stadium gave him a standing ovation.

The blistering knock by Younis, who also became the sixth Pakistani to reach 5,000 runs in test cricket, ended any hopes Sri Lanka had of winning the match.

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Flintoff to Confront ECB

England all rounder Andrew Flintoff could be heading for a showdown with ECB bosses over playing in the Indian Premier League.

andrew-flintoff

reddie, 31, is struggling with a hip problem that will keep him out of Thursday’s Fourth Test against West Indies and maybe more matches.

ECB chief executive David Collier confirmed that the board has the power to withdraw Flintoff from the IPL on medical grounds.

Flintoff has been signed up by the Chennai Super Kings for a record price of 1.55 million pounds, making him the joint most valuable cricketer in history with Kevin Pietersen.

The ECB have agreed to a three-week IPL window for England’s Test players starting on April 10 so, in reality, he will receive around 540,000 pounds from the Chennai Super Kings.

Collier said: “We’d be concerned if any player was carrying an injury that may affect his participation in the Ashes. There are medical clauses in Andrew’s contract. The IPL are very responsible in that area.”

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Clarke likely to miss first Test

Australian Vice-Captain Michael Clarke is likely to be ruled out of the first Test match against South Africa due to a serious back injury. The first Test match will start on Thursday.

michael clarke

Admitting the spasms and discomfort, Clarke had a couple of net sessions instead of playing a tour match against South Africa Board President’s XI at Senwes Park.

His unavailability for the first Test match would be serious blow for Kangaroos who have lost their number one spot in recent times.

Clarke, who had a lot of inflammation and spasm, said, “I do not know exactly how it happened. I guess it’s a sprain. I had a lot of inflammation and spasm. It is improving slowly every day since we arrived here.”

The Australian Vice-captain was, however, hopeful to play in the first Test match.

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Bucknor Calls Time On Umpiring Career

West Indian umpire Steve Bucknor, who has officiated in a record 126 tests, will retire from international matches in March.

Steve Bucknor

Bucknor, 62, told the Jamaica Gleaner that the third test between South Africa and Australia in Cape steve bucknorTown would be his last international.

“I have notified the ICC that the South Africa v Australia series will be my last test series. The third test, my last test,” said the Jamaican.

Bucknor, who hails from Montego Bay, said he felt physically able to continue but felt it was the right time to stand down.

“The body is feeling quite good and I know I could go on for two or three years. However, something inside me is telling me it is time to go,” he added.

The umpire, who was the first to officiate 100 tests, said he hopes to work with the West Indies Cricket Board on developing new umpiring talent in the Caribbean.

“I still would like to continue making a contribution,” he said. Bucknor has stood in 179 one day internationals, including five consecutive World Cups.

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Strauss is Learning it Hard way

England captain Andrew Strauss, in charge of his first tour, is learning the lessons of captaincy the hard way after suffering two hard-to-take results against West Indies in his opening tests.

After an innings and 23 run defeat in the first test in Kingston, when his team collapsed to 51 all out, came a 10-ball abandoned match at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, followed by a bitterly disappointing draw in the hastily arranged third test at the Antigua Recreation Ground.

Andrew Strauss

England had the upper hand for all five days of an enthralling test match, Strauss’s 169 helping them to 566 for nine declared in their first innings. They sat in command after setting West Indies a near impossible target of 503 to win.

But in four-and-a-half sessions of bowling, England could only get nine West Indian wickets as the last pair of Fidel Edwards and Daren Powell hung on for 10 agonising overs.

“Clearly when you get so close in a Test and you don’t make it over that final hurdle it is very hard to take,” said Strauss.

“In some ways it does feel like a defeat, but once the emotion subsides and we realise there’s a lot of positives to come out of the Test.

EXCEPTIONAL BOWLING

“The way we batted after Jamaica was the way to respond, the way Graeme Swann bowled was exceptional and Stuart Broad as well bowled very well.

“Hopefully we have shifted the momentum away from West Indies and if we can get better as the tour goes on there’s no reason why we can’t win the series.”

“Test wins don’t come easily, especially on a wicket like this even against numbers 10 and 11 it’s hard to force the issue.

“I can’t fault the bowlers, they did as well as they could in those conditions. It was just one of those things, it wasn’t meant to be,” he added.

Critics might point to Strauss’s decision not to enforce the follow-on or his sending in James Anderson as a night watchman at the end of the third day, which slowed down England on the morning of the next session.

But the England skipper was also restricted by Andrew Flintoff’s hip injury and Steve Harmison’s stomach upset.

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Flintoff’s Fitness in Doubt

Concerns about Andrew Flintoff’s fitness are gaining fresh ground after  his friend and bowling partner Steve Harmison hinted a serious problem with English all-rounder.

Andrew Flintoff

Fears are that he may miss the fourth Test in Barbados starting on 26 of Feb are growing, after he just balled three uncomfortable overs on the fourth day of third Test and left the field.

English management initially denied anything wrong with the talismanic all-rounder, but when he left the field, they admitted that he had an anti-inflammatory injection in a hip, and Harmison said: “I am not going to lie to you and say that everything’s all right. Where he goes from here, nobody knows. We just hope he’ll be fit for the next Test in Barbados.”

Big lad of England cricket is struggling with a series of injuries in recent past. He has been off-field because of troubling knee injury and has also complained of a side strain which forced him to have a scanner in St Kitts, Jamaica just before the series.

The fourth Test is not the only concern, but team is worried that he may miss rest of the tour to make sure he fit for the two Test match series against West Indies at home and the all important Ashes.

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