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England crushed South Africa by an innings and 98 runs in the second test at Kingsmead to lead the series 4-0.

England only required an hour and 15 minutes to wrap up the South African innings. Any hopes of some South African resistance on a good batting pitch were non-existent.

England thoroughly deserve their victory as they played the more positive cricket, and put South Africa under increasing pressure.

It’s the  first time since 1964 that England have beaten South Africa by an innings while the last time the Proteas suffered an innings defeat was in 2006 against Sri Lanka in Colombo.

South African captain Graeme Smith could only say it was “Massively disappointing.”

“It’s been disappointing, the past few days, the way we’ve been outplayed and we haven’t really had an answer. We fought very well in the first innings, to post 340-odd – it was a very good first innings total. But right from ball one, with the ball we were very poor. We gave England a start, after we’d created some pressure with our tail, to get a total. We bowled badly, took the pressure off them and they raced to 80, 90, 100. And right from that point, we were playing catch-up. We never really found our areas, we weren’t precise enough and it was disappointing the way we finished,” said Smith.

Looking ahead to the next test, Smith said  “We need to make the right decisions to win the next test in Cape Town. So we’ll have a look at the squad and see what the selectors give us for Cape Town and take it from there. We’ve had one collapse, and disappointing as it is, I don’t think it’s a call to make massive changes in the team. Our top six have got good records and have performed well over time.”

To rub salt into the would English captain Andrew Strauss said “It was as emphatic a victory away from home as I can remember. The whole test match, we did exactly what we wanted to do. We wanted to start the game well, and we got them two down early on. They got stuck in and came back at us a bit, but they never got away from us. We always felt it was under control and manageable.”

One of the key elements I felt was the pressure the English Bowlers were able to exert with accurate bowling. Andrew Strauss also said, “The ball was reversing a bit and spinning a bit, but it was also the pressure and we didn’t give them any loose deliveries, and that’s ultimately what got us into a position to win the game today.”

It shows that the game is all about executing the basics and building pressure.Responding to pressure is the South African weakpoint.

After finishing 2008 so superbly, the Proteas have wilted terribly. Of the 6 test matches in 2009, 5 of which were on home soil I might add, we’ve won 1 test match, which came in a dead rubber.

More worryingly, we’ve been outplayed quite convincingly in 4 of those matches, and have struggled to consistently take wickets. Was it any coincidence that the 1 victory came when we were playing without Graeme Smith?

Graeme Smith said “We haven’t played as much test cricket this year as we did in 2008, but 2009 hasn’t lived up the hype that we built up in 2008 and that’s disappointing. We reached a point and haven’t been able to move up to the next level and that’s something we need to look at – possibly with a leadership meeting.”

Leadership meetings aren’t needed. What is needed is some quality bowlers who can bowl wicket to wicket, attack the stumps, and bowl to fields that aren’t spread all over the ground. Morne Morkel and Makhaya Ntini don’t fit that bill.

The batting lineup needs players who are prepared to back themselves, take the attack to an average English pace line-up and bat for long periods of time.

The one saving grace that may help South Africa get back into this series is the fact we generally perform very well at Newlands and it has been a happy ground in recent times. If we don’t start well in the third test, 2010 could be a long year for us as well!

If the weather holds at Kingsmead on day 5, England will convincingly demolish South Africa in the second test.

Starting the day at 386/5, England produced numerous partnerships in scoring a massive 575/9. Ian Bell top scored with a magnificent 141 to give the tourists a 232 run lead after the first innings. In reply South Africa are in dire straits ending the 4th day on 76/6, still some 156 runs behind making England bat again, and with their engine room gone, I can’t see South Africa surviving until lunch let alone the 98 overs in the day.

During the England innings it was evident from the South African body language and demeanour they lack any enthusiasm or energy, were simply going through the motions and waiting for the declaration or the next stanza in play to happen. Representing South Africa you should never give up. That is not good enough.

England played superbly, sucking the life out of the South African bowling attack. It worked.

All we heard from the commentators was how good a batting strip it is. And it truly is. History shows it is easy to bat on days 3, 4 and 5.

South Africa couldn’t cash in on it however as both Stuart Broad and Graeme Swann claimed 3 wickets apiece to trigger a collapse where South Africa lost 6 wickets for just 23 runs.

Both bowlers are hardly the most dangerous in the world, and on a good batting wicket, it was the pressure that told. South African cricket simply doesn’t respond well to pressure situations. There are the odd exceptions such as the Melbourne test match against Australia last year, but in general we either choke or succumb way to easily when someone has to stand up and fight.

England should go 1-0 up heading to Cape Town. With only 2 tests remaining South Africa would have to win them both. Based on how things normally unfold I’d suspect an England victory again with South Africa claiming a dead rubber in the last test. I don’t wish to be the eternal pessimist, but we’ve down this road to many times before.

I’ll be praying for rain for day 5 at Kingsmead!

After 3 days, England ended at 386/5 in reply to South Africa’s 343, gaining a handy lead of 43.

Resuming on 103/1, the early loss of Jonathon Trott was negated by some impressive batting partnerships in the face of some wayward bowling from South Africa.

Alistair Cook toughed out an impressive century given his recent form of only 32 runs in his past 8 test innings. His first 37 deliveries of the morning only produced 1 run, but he showed the value of hanging in there, and being able to cash in once the bowlers tired.

Cook managed to overturn an LBW dismissal with the help of the tv replay, and prospered after that. He was aided by Kevin Pietersen first, followed by Paul Collingwood in partnerships of 51 and 142.

Whilst the pitch is definitely easier to bat on compared to the first day, and historically often is, the South African bowling attack looks devoid of an threats. The Proteas are discovering that it is one thing to get to the top, it is definitely harder to stay there. Since achieving the number 1 ICC world rankings in both tests and ODI’s, they’ve slipped back, in my view because they’ve become complacent and defensive.

England have shown a willingness to attack with the bat, the Proteas haven’t shown the same urgency or belief in their ability to stamp their authority over the England attack.

The South African bowling attack lacks penetration, but more importantly a plan. At this stage it looks like it is harder to get out of the side than to get into it. Morkel is a back of a length bowler who can trouble batsmen with his bounce, but is hardly likely to bowl a side out. Ntini has lost pace, accuracy and is just a gentle medium pacer who tries hard, but has lot his edge. Dale Steyn is still a fantastic bowler, but bowling wide of off stump will blunt his edge. He can bowl fantastic yorkers, and shape the ball away from the right hander. He needs to bowl straighter and attack the stumps. What is the captain telling him to do?

We need a new pace attack. Friedel de Wet looked good at Centurion. Wayne Parnell is a wicket taker, Lowabo Tsotsobe can move the ball and offers variation. Attack more, back the bowlers. Set more attacking fields. Putting Harris on to tie up one end with a long on, deep mid wicket and deep square leg is negative. You can’t build up pressure when you allow 3-4 easy singles each over.

Proteas coach Mickey Arthur said it had been a hard day for South Africa, but he was pleased with the way the team had stuck to its task. “If we can restrict them to a lead of 150, we’ll be very happy,” he said.

The morning session will be crucial in determining whether the Proteas can earn a draw or allow England to get away and dictate conditions on the last day.

Day 2 at Kingsmead ended with England seizing the advantage to finish at 103/1 in reply to South Africa’s 343

South Africa had produced a good rearguard action to total 343 after having started the day at 175/5.

AB de Villiers and Mark Boucher combined well to lift the scoring rate and produce a valuable 63 run partnership. England were hoping to wrap up the tail quickly, especially with the aid of the second new ball, especially when de Villiers was out on 269.

However resistance in the form of Morne Morkel, followed by Dale Steyn and Makhaya Ntini allowed South Africa to post a score they were more than happy with.

Steyn and Ntini batted beautifully in putting on 58 for the last wicket. Steyn showing that you can be positive without slogging every delivery. In fact he chose his deliveries to attack exceptionally well, and Makhaya Ntini supported him admirably.

It also demonstrated to the South African top order that you just need to see off the new ball and you can cash in as the bowling attack gets tired and loses its edge with the older, softer ball.

Andrew Strauss is a defensive captain, and his decision to persist with Graeme Swann puzzled me. Swann has been England’s leading wicket taker, and he is a decent bowler who gets a bit of turn and is fairly accurate. However he is no Muralitharan or Saqlain Mushtaq, and Dale Steyn showed how ordinary he can look when the attack is taken to him.

The Proteas would have been more than satisfied in reaching 343, but most of the good work was undone with wildly erratic bowling. Dale Steyn and Makhaya Ntiniwasted the new ball, bowling too short, too wide and lacking the pace and fizz one would expect from a new ball attack.

Graeme Smith had to turn to Morne Morkel and an ineffectual Jacque Kallis who is still not 100%.

It has also highlighted to me how much more positive Andrew Strauss and the English side are compared to the Proteas. They scored at 3.91 runs per over compared to 3.16 from South Africa (which was boosted considerably from Dale Steyn and Mark Boucher).

Clearly the English are looking to dominate and seize the initiative. They have achieved this and enter the third day in pole position. South Africa will need Steyn and Ntini to fire and grab early wickets because I can’t see Morkel ever ripping through a batting order. With good overhead conditions and still something in the wicket, it’s up to whoever is prepared the put in the effort to reap the rewards.

The second test between South Africa and England at Kingsmead sits evenly poised after the first day with South Africa 175/5.

After winning the toss and electing to bat, Graeme Smith would have been hoping to see off the new ball and cash in after the morning session. However 2 wickets in the first half hour, and a run rate  of only 1 an over put the Proteas under tremendous pressure.  With all the pre-test talk about which side would have the momentum after the first test, it showed you simply have to focus on the next delivery.

South Africa’s 2 premium batsmen Graeme Smith and Jacques Kallis played really well to see off the new ball, accumulate runs and place England under pressure. A 150 run partnership left South Africa firmly in the drivers seat and looking very comfortable.

However an innocuous arm ball from Graeme Swann that went straight on found the edge of Kallis’ bat and that triggered a mini-collapse that saw the Proteas lose 3 wickets for 10 runs and makes the game evenly balanced at 175/5. South Africa will be hoping for 300-350, whilst England will want to wrap up the inings quickly on the second morning for under 250.

I thought Kallis and Smith played patiently but it is still a concern how defensive the mindset is. Sure it was difficult to bat in the morning session with the ball moving around, and steep bounce. However having a slow run rate allows the bowlers to bowl with little pressure, and work on plans for each batsmen. By playing more aggressively, hiting through the line of the ball (I’d like to see more driving through the covers and down the ground) you spread the field, get quick runs and place the pressure back on the bowler who is likely to try more (giving you more loose deliveries to put away)

A good example of this was Graeme Swann and Jonathon Trott. At Centurion Kallis took the attack to Swan, at Durban he was more circumspect. The English placed their field more strategically, but Kallis’ defensive mindset I believe got him out as he prodded at a ball.

I thought Andrew Strauss was quite negative bowling his spinner so much on the opening day of a test match, but we allowed him to play the holding role by not going after him.

The second morning and new ball just before lunch will be crucial. Much rests on Ab de Villiers to get South Africa over 300 and at least place some pressure on the English batsmen. I just hope we attack rather than hang around and eventually get out.

The first Cricket test between South Africa and England at Centurion ended in a draw.

South Africa 418 and 301 for 6 dec ; England 356 and 228/9

Match result: Draw

England made 228/9 in their final innings as the last pair held on for 20 deliveries, whilst South Africa pressed for the last wicket.

The celebrations from England at the conclusion of the game were a little over the top in my opinion, but highlight just how important it was for them not to go down early in the series. South Africa were happy enough to have put themselves in a position to go for the win, but perhaps didn’t risk enough to get the victory they sought.

It was a dramatic test, with plenty of momentum shifts during the game. England were generally always behind, and fought tenaciously.

Looking back, I thought the game was lost by South Africa rather than England saving the game.

After a decent first innings, South Africa applied good pressure to have England at 242/8, and looking at a lead of about 150. As we’ve seen over the last 18 months however, the Proteas are unable to wrap up the tail effectively. The partnership between Graeme Swann and James Anderson may well have been the saving of the game for England.

With only a small lead, South Africa had to score quickly and put England under pressure. It didn’t go to plan with some poor batting, and at 46/4, it could have swung England’s way. However a good partnership between AB de Villiers and Hashim Amla sound pulled the momentum back South Africa’s way. At this stage it was important for South Africa to attack and try to up the scoring rate. There was a lack of urgency from some players, Amla in particular that simply did not leave enough time to have a fair crack at England on the 4th evening.

Whilst I understand Graeme Smith did not want to give England a chance at victory, sometimes you have to be prepared to lose in order to win. If you truly believe you are the best side in the world, I believe you need to play as if you are the best side in the world.

I hope the batting shows greater urgency in Durban, and as AB de Villiers showed, you don’t have to do anything silly to score at a decent rate. Amla and Prince in particular get bogged down and stifle the innings. Perhaps it comes from the fact that technically they don’t get forward enough and struggle against the fuller delivery.

However it is the bowling attack that I feel is the biggest problem. Many are saying that the “Mdingi Express”, Makhaya Ntini is the weak link. He was certainly below his best and didn’t get much reward but he usually gets better as a series goes on. He also hasn’t had much cricket recently and I probably be prepared to give him another chance in Durban. Had de Villiers held on to the chance in the first over, who knows what Makhaya would have produced!

I thought Friedel de Wet bowled better as the match went on, and the weak link was in fact Morne Morkel. It surprises me how many people say Morkel has so much talent and is a good bowler. In my view he can only bowl 1 type of delivery, short of a length. He seems incapable of bowling it fuller and getting the batsmen to drive, and often ends up bowling to wide. In my opinion it is why we struggle to wrap up the tail.

Waqar Younis got about 60% of Batsmen 8, 9, 10 1nd 11 out either LBW or bowled. That’s because he bowled full and attacked the stumps. Our bowlers bowl too wide and do not attack the stumps enough. In the first innings when Swann and Anderson were going, Smith put the field back and gave away too many easy runs, and the England players had no pressure placed on them. I’ve always believed you can’t set a field for bad bowling. Rather bowl stump to stump, have the field up and force the batsmen into an error.

We certainly missed Jacques Kallis in the bowling department, but I’d like to see a bowler who either bowls wicket to wicket and/or can bowl fuller eg Wayne Parnell or Lonwabo Tsotsobe. Morkel is hardly likely to get more than 2-3 wickets at best. When did he last take 5 wickets in an innings?

With 1 or 2 changes we showed we should beat England if we play to our potential. Let’s see what Durban brings us!