Latest News – Sanjay's Cricket World

After climbing great heights in 2008, the Proteas came crashing back to earth in 2009. 2010 has started well, but there is a lot more cricket left to be played!

Graeme Smith was reasonably happy after South Africa managed to draw the series against England at the Wanderers on Sunday to retain the Basil d’Oliveira trophy.

“If we are honest we could easily be sat here 3-1 up. We’ve played the better cricket in three out of four games. We lacked knock-out blows in Centurion and Cape Town, and England played very well in Durban, but it was great to play such convincing cricket here at the Wanderers. We really dominated the game and came out deserved winners” said Smith

Smith continued “We certainly were the team that was hungrier coming into this game, and we played that way. In the player group, there’s a real drive to be better. We’ve dominated three of the four tests and we knew what we had to do coming here. I’m really proud of the way the guys performed.”

South Africa were unlucky not to win the series 3-1 after good performances at Centurion and Newlands, but almost is not good enough. A good cricket side is a ruthless side, one that takes its chances, and put the opposition away. Test cricket is about winning sessions and playing the important moments better than the opposition.

To draw at home is not an acceptable result. In reality South Africa dominated the series with the bat, but when it mattered in Durban they came up short and England seized their chance.

ICC Test Rankings

Graeme Smith said 2009 was a disappointing year, but hoped 2010 would be the start of some better cricket. “We’ve started in a really positive way with a very good test in Cape Town and and an even better one here. The last ten tests we’ve played have been against top test nations. It’s been competitive and that’s what people want to watch. If you have top teams playing against each other, there are going to be ebbs and flows and teams will push each other right to the end” said Smith.

South Africa (120) are now 4 ranking points behind India (124) who are ranked number 1. South Africa have a great chance to improve their ranking when they take on India in India during February.

TV Review System

Both Graeme Smith and English captain Andrew Strauss were pleased with the television review system.

“The system generally in this series has worked well. We’ve got more decisions right as a result of it” said Strauss

Graeme Smith said “Teams are trying their luck a lot more. It really is to take the shocking decisions out of the game. Maybe if you only had one review teams wouldn’t take so many chances. We have to keep trialing it and keep improving it. There are always going to be frustrations. We have to view it in the right light, try and build on that and give it a chance to work.”

It would help if all countries had access to the same technology such as the snickometer and hot spot. I am not convinced TV reviews are they way to go, but if it is to be we mustn’t lose sight of the fact it is not for 50/50 calls but to stop the really horrendous or wrong decisions that can influence a match.

For that reason I’d favour 1 incorrect call per innings or perhaps 2 per match, This would stop teams questioning calls just because they have a review and testing the waters. If someone genuinely believes they weren’t out, or a batsmen was definitely out, it’d ensure the correct decisions were made.

Another possibility is to leave the technology in the hands of the umpires, similar to the run out system.

The future for the Proteas

By and large South Africa performed well with the bat. the exception was Durban and it cost the Proteas dearly.

There are still problems with the South African batting lineup. One gets the feeling that is Graeme Smith and Jacques Kallis don’t contribute heavily, South Africa are in trouble.

Hashim Amla had a solid series, Mark Boucher was much better lower down the order, and AB de Villiers had some good starts. In the tail, Dale Steyn continues to impress and makes some valuable contributions.

However Ashwell Prince was poor after a solid start at Centurion. Surely a specialist opener is a better idea. AB de Villiers never really got going, and JP Duminy was found wanting although I do believe he is a great talent.

It is the bowling however that I feel is South Africa’s biggest problem. To win test matches you need to take 20 wickets. Other than the Wanderers, we simply couldn’t accomplish this.

Graeme Smith had high praise for the bowling attack after the Wanderers test. “Dale’s (Steyn) performed unbelievably well for a period of time, and he’s really led our attack well. Morne (Morkel), coming back from being left out of the side, working on his game, and coming back a far better bowler, has really done well in the series, and deserves credit for that. (Wayne) Parnell’s 20 years old, he’s on debut and there’s a lot of learning for him to do, but to have two spearheads with pace and bounce, it really does look great” said Smith.

Dale Steyn has carried this bowling attack for the past 3 years. It is too much responsibility for 1 one man as good as Steyn is. It was nice to see Morne Morkel step up during the series, his challenge is to remain consistent. Wayne Parnell is a good talent, and should have a long career ahead of him.

I don’t think it was any co-incidence that South Africa claimed 20 wickets at the Wanderers because they bowled straighter and attacked the stumps more. Steyn had a few victims bowled, and got guys nicking the ball because they couldn’t leave the off-stump line. Steyn is at his best attacking the stumps and needs to be encouraged to persist with it.

Morne Morkel got greater returns because he pitched the ball up. He has to get guys driving, and then he can make use of his steep bounce. But just banging the ball in short hasn’t worked for him and must be discarded.

Parnell is another attacking bowler, gets in close to the stumps and can swing the ball like Steyn does. With Kallis and possibly McLaren as back up, I feel much more confident about getting the 20 wickets to win a test match.

Let’s hope the attitude and game-plan we employed at the Wanderers is displayed during the rest of 2010. If we execute well, we’ll get back to where we were in 2008 I’m sure.

South Africa beat England by an innings and 74 runs in the 4th test at the Wanderers to retain the Basil d’Oliveira Trophy.

After resuming the 4th day at 48/3, England were in trouble early on with the departure of Kevin Pietersen for just 12.

Morne Morkel then came back to destroy the English middle order with his second spell. Morkel claimed the wickets of Ian Bell, Matt Prior, and Stuart Broad in a spell netting the 3 wickets for just 15 runs.

Once the English heart had been ripped out, the end was inevitable, with only Paul Collingwood providing any resistance.

Dale Steyn picked up Graeme Swann to finish with 7 wickets for the match, and JP Duminy came on to claim the last 2 English wickets, Collingwood and Ryan Sidebottom.

The match ended on the stroke of lunch on the 4th day, even more remarkable when one considers that over 90 overs were lost in the match due to rain.

After the match Graeme Smith said his side had thoroughly deserved the victory, “We lacked knock-out blows in Centurion and Cape Town, and England played very well in Durban, but it was great to play such convincing cricket here at the Wanderers. We really dominated the game and came out deserved winners. We certainly were the team that was hungrier coming into this game, and we played that way. In the player group, there’s a real drive to be better. I’m really proud of the way the guys performed” said Smith.

Smith also said the wicket maintained it’s pace and bounce and his bowlers deserved plenty of praise. “It was nice to have a wicket that didn’t fade away, like the wickets at Newlands and Centurion,” he said. “The other wickets got slower and slower as the game went on. This wicket, it was nice to see the ball going through to the keeper. Dale’s (Steyn) performed unbelievably well for a period of time, and he’s really led our attack well. Morne (Morkel), coming back from being left out of the side, working on his game, and coming back a far better bowler, has really done well in the series, and deserves credit for that. (Wayne) Parnell’s 20 years old, he’s on debut and there’s a lot of learning for him to do, but to have two spearheads with pace and bounce, it really does look great” said Smith.

English captain Andrew Strauss meanwhile lamented the loss of early wickets but maintained it had been a successful tour despite being outplayed for the majority of the series.

“It’s been three and a half frustrating days for us. When you lose four wickets in the first hour of a test match, it’s always going to be hard to drag it back. All credit to South Africa – they never let us back in the game. Steyn and Morkel were excellent on this wicket, and we were below par -we didn’t play as well as we should have done. It’s a disappointing end to the tour. But I don’t want to lose sight of the fact that it’s been a successful tour, and we’ve made improvements in the course of the 10 weeks we’ve been here. We’ve shown a lot of resilience and character, but we need to get better” said Strauss

So the series ends at 1-1. England will be happy, whilst South Africa will be disappointed not to have won on home soil. Hopefully there will be lessons learnt as the Proteas aim to reclaim their number 1 ranking in 2010!

After 3 days in the 4th test at the Wanderers between South Africa and England, South Africa look to have victory and a series draw in their sights.

Starting the day at 215/2, South Africa started poorly as Hashim Amla added only 2 runs to his overnight total to be dismissed for 75, and Jacques Kallis failed to add to his overnight total to depart for 7. Once again Kallis was dismissed very early upon resuming an innings. It is possibly his biggest weakness and in contrast to someone like Ricky Ponting who recently turned a century into a double hundred in Hobart doing the same thing.

JP Duminy was out cheaply to Graeme Swann once again and South Africa had lost 3 wickets for 20 runs to start the morning session!

AB de Villiers and Mark Boucher then led a fightback with a determined 120 run stand. de Villiers had his share of luck, twice being dismissed and being overturned with the tv review system. de Villiers was eventually out for 58.

Mark Boucher took the attack to England and fell 5 runs short of his century. His 95 had come off just 118 deliveries and importantly gave South Africa the runs and time to take the remaining 10 English wickets.

South Africa declared on 423/7, a lead of 243.

England then made a horror start to their second innings. Morne Morkel made the initial breakthrough, getting step bounce which induced the edge from Alistair Cook to first slip.

Dale Steyn got in on the act removin Jonathan Trott with a delivery that swung away, and debutant Wayne Parnell claimed his first test match wicket with a full delivery that trapped English Captain Andrew Strauss LBW to leave England 48/3, still 195 behind.

Unfortunately rain caused another 20 overs to be lost, but England are unlucky to be saved from the weather. Kevin Pietersen and Paul Collingwood will resume on the 4th morning, and together with Ian Bell they’ll have to bat a long time if England are to save this game.

Unlike test 1 and 3 however, England will be facing a South African attack that appears to be working well as a unit, with plenty of assistance from the wicket and surrounding weather.

If South Africa start well on day 4, this match may not even need have a 5th day even though we have lost about 90 overs already!

Day 2 of the 4th test between South Africa and England at the Wanderers produced more controversy, this time with the television review system.

Early in the first session when on 15, Graeme Smith was given not out for a caught behind appeal.

England subsequently requested a review, and the third umpire Darryl Harper could not find evidence Smith was out, so Smith remained.

Smith went on to make a valuable 105 and set his side up for victory.

English coach Andy Flower criticised the television review system at the conclusion of play.

Flower said he had gone to ICC match referee Roshan Mahanama twice about the incident. Firstly to clarify the procedure that was used, and secondly when he believed he had been given the wrong information.

The inital decision by on field umpire Ton Hill was not out. For the decision to be reversed, there has to be clear evidence that Smith hit the ball.

The controversy stems from the fact that Darryl Harper appeared to not use the audio feed from the stump microphone to be able to hear the nick after video replays could find no conclusive evidence that Smith had in fact nicked the ball.

If this was indeed the case, it suggests Harper erred. But a noise does not provide clear evidence a nick did in fact take place.

Unfortunately there is no use of the “snickometer” or hot spot in this series, and both sides were aware of these limitations heading into the series.

I find the English attitude very disturbing. Get on with the game! In the history of cricket there have been many bad decisions, and many instances where teams have felt aggrieved. However you can’t do anything about them, you’ve simply got to put them behind you and get on with the next ball.

Flower’s attitude is disappointing, and for him to criticise the match review system is irresponsible.

There is no clear evidence Graeme Smith was out. Smith even said “there definitely was a noise” but didn’t think he had hit the ball.

“I thought it was my thumb on the handle. At the time I didn’t feel I had hit it and I still don’t feel I hit it” said Smith.

We may have the use of technology but it still doesn’t take the controversy out of the game. Therefore I’d suggest we simply go back to the way it was and give the decisions back to the on-field officials!

South Africa have firm control of the 4th test at the Wanderers, but their biggest threat to victory may be the weather and not the English opposition!

Resuming on 29/0, Graeme Smith and Ashwell Prince were looking to see off the new ball. However with the addition of only 7 runs, Prince edged a delivery from Stuart Broad to Graeme Swann at second slip to complete a horror run and ensure his position at the top of South Africa’s order will surely be scrutinised heavily at the completion of the series.

On 15, Graeme Smith was given not out for a caught behind appeal. England subsequently requested a review, and the third umpire Darryl Harper could not find evidence Smith was out, so Smith remained.

Smith and Hashim Amla than built a crucial 2nd wicket stand of 165 off 40 overs at a rate of 4 an over. It was match defining as it saw off the new ball, positioned South Africa in a dominant position and most importantly wore the English bowlers out.

Smith was eventually out for 105, his 6th century against England.

Unfortunately just before tea the rain came and halted South Africa’s momentum. Play resumed briefly again before bad light intervened, and Hashim Amla and Jacques Kallis will resume on day 3 with scores of 73 and 7.

With more rain forecast over the course of the next 3 days, South Africa have 2 options.
1. Bat long and try to ensure they don’t have to bat again in the match, or
2. Score as many runs as quickly as possible and give themselves time to bowl England out and chase down whatever target they are set, if any.

Given the fact we really need to take the remaining 10 English wickets to win the game, and this game is at desperation stakes to ensure we don’t lose the series, I’d favour scenario 2 even though it’s the more risky option. When you have to win, you have to take risks however!

Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel moved South Africa into the box seat in the 4th Test at the Wanderers.

Losing the toss, Graeme Smith wouldn’t have been disappointed to have a bowl first given the overhead conditions and nature of the pitch. The key to losing tosses like this is to ensure you don’t waste the new ball and lively wicket first up.

Dale Steyn produced the desired result with the first ball of the match removing the dangerous English captain, Andrew Strauss. I was pleased to see Steyn trying to attack the stumps more. He did get picked off at times when getting to close to leg stump, especially against the left handers, but he remained threatening all day.

Morne Morkel backed him up superbly and got results for pitching the ball up. It’s taken some time for Morkel to start to adapt this strategy more often, but the result was 3 key English wickets early on, and placing the pressure right on the English batsmen.

Paul Collingwood and Ian Bell threatened an English revivial with a 5th wicket stand of 76, before debutant Ryan McLaren claimed his first test wicket in breaking the partnership.

Jaques Kallis was a good supporting bowler, whilst the other debutant Wayne Parnell was more of a spectator.

However it was Dale Steyn who wrapped up proceedings as a steady flow of English wickets kept tumbling. Steyn has a knack of coming back to clean up the tail and earnt his 12th 5 wicket bag in an innings. Steyn now has the distinction of claiming 5 wicket bags against all the test playing nations.

England were dismissed for a paltry 180 in 47.5 overs.

In reply South Africa only got to face 12 overs as bad light and rain stopped play for the day. South Africa will resume on the second morning at 29/0.

The morning session as it has been all series will be crucial. If South Africa can see off the new ball, they can potentially score a large total and almost bat England out of the game. Early wickets and England will be right back in it.

There has been plenty of twists and turns in the series so far, tomorrow promises to be no different.

South Africa require a win at the Wanderers in the final test against England on Thursday to ensure they don’t lose the series.

Conditions are expected to favour the bowlers, and by all accounts South Africa coach Mickey Arthur has requested a result wicket with plenty of grass. Being 1-0 down in the series, there is plenty at stake as South Africa don’t want to lose the Basil d’Oliveira trophy, nor lose valuable ICC test match ranking points.

Jacques Kallis reported that the pitch wasn’t as bowler-friendly as many initally expected. “I’ve had a look at the pitch and it’s not as green as some of the pitches I’ve seen here in the past. It will do a bit, there’s no doubt, and the batsmen will need skill”

Kallis felt the Proteas’ batsmen would have the advantage in adapting to the conditions. “Our pitches do the most in the world and our guys may be better equipped and more used to the conditions. The ball will probably bounce and move around more than it does in England.”

It is important for South Africa to focus on playing well and forget the fact they possibly should be ahead in the series.

“We have discussed it because the feeling could be that we have dominated the series but somehow haven’t managed to get a win, we are still behind, and we could feel hard done by. But we have to look to the future, it’s useless feeling that way, we need to move on and control what we do going forward. England have never given up and they’ve managed to get out of tough situations, they’ve shown fight and character. We were in England’s situation in Durban and we crumbled in that same situation, so we have only ourselves to blame”  said Kallis.

Whilst the feeling within the South African camp appears to shown confidence in their own abilities, I for one have been very disappointed with the way our side has played since gaining the number 1 ranking. We seem to wait until times are desperate before coming out fighting or playing attacking cricket. Graeme Smith’s captaincy reflects this. He waited until the final hour to really start attcking at both Centurion and Newlands. Who knows what could have happened had he been prepared to attack earlier.

Ian Chappell is another who shares my point of view and recently on Cricinfo said “South Africa look like they have gone off the rails and the more I look at them the more I feel they are not as good as I thought they were.”

There is plenty for South Africa to prove in this test match, and only an emphatic victory would temporarily lay to rest many of the critics. I don’t want to contemplate a series loss. Losing to England at home is simply not good enough for a side that simply never seems to dominate an opposition. I’m hoping the desperation they need to exhibit during this test match show them the way they need to be playing every test match. Go fo the win!

Friedel de Wet has once again sucumbed to a serious back injury.

Friedel de Wet lacked his normal pace and zip during the 3rd test at Newlands. What was initially managed with pain killing injections to get him through the Newlands test has now been revealed as a stress fracture of his lower back. An injury de Wet has battled with previously.

South African coach Mickey Arthur said, “Friedel won’t be training with us this week and, sadly, it’s the long-term problem with his back again. You have to feel for him, it happened in the fifth over of the first innings in Cape Town, but he came in and gave it his all with injections and a serious back injury for another 20-odd overs. You have to admire him for that and it speaks volumes for him.”

de Wet now faces a lengthy rehabilitation period after enduring some prolonged rest. The question I’d ask the South African selectors is, “Was it a good decision to pick a bowler who hadn’t had a lot of recent bowling given his previous injuries?” I’d suggest not.

Whilst de Wet looked like he had something to offer in the 2nd innings at Centurion, surely now his age and injuries will count against him. It may be a blessing in disguise for the South African selectors who really need to give some new players the opportunity to become part of the South African pace attack.

First cab off the ranks looks to be Wayne Parnell who offers variety being a left-armer, and a bowler who can genuinely swing the ball. What I like most is he is always in the game and hs a knack of picking up wickets.

Speaking about Wayne Parnell, Mickey Arthur said “Wayne is a huge talent, he bowls with pace, is a decent batsman and a good fielder. He has a real chance of playing because of his pace – we said we wanted three strike bowlers and Wayne could be one of them. Although he’s very young in terms of first-class cricket, he will mature and I’m very happy to have him on board.”

Parnell has the ability to develop into a quality all-rounder. Someone needs to step up soon as Jacques Kallis won’t be around forever, and we’ve already seen how important quality all-rounders are to the balance of a side.

The English have hit back at South Africa for suggesting they tampered with the ball in the 3rd cricket test at Newlands.

In no way am I suggesting it influenced the course of the match, but it was clearly evident on the tv footage that first Sturat Broad with his boot and studs, and then James Anderson trying to run his fingers down the seam were trying to “roughen” the ball in order to get reverse swing.

Former English Captain Micheal Vaughn said on Thursday that England had been lucky to escape any punishment.  They were lucky to get away without an official reprimand, or even a ban because there was no doubt in my mind that they were trying to change the condition of the ball. Anderson is a lucky man, I don’t think anyone could have argued if he had been asked to sit out the next match, but the ICC has brushed the whole thing aside because they don’t want any controversy.”

Vaughan also accused the ICC of double-standards, saying is a side such as Pakistan were involved things would have been different. “If Shoaib Akhtar or Mohammad Asif had been pictured using their fingers on the ball, there would have been uproar.”

I totally agree. The English are in with the old boys club. The fact that no formal complaint was issued by South Africa meant the ICC closed the matter. Forget the fact England were trying to cheat!

Meanwhile another former English captain, Michael Atherton said the two English bowlers were victims of “trial by television”. Well duh, the evidence was plain to see!
He questioned the Proteas actions in bringing up the issue but not following through. “Ball tampering is a serious allegation in cricket and if you make it, as South Africa effectively did by publicly raising their ‘concerns’ about the state of the ball, you had better be damn sure of your facts.”

Considering Atherton was fined for carrying dirt in his pocket, and then rubbing it into the ball whilst playing South Africa at Lords, I would suggest he is not one to talk! He was a cheat, and anything he says doesn’t cut it with me.
Current English captain Andrew Strauss said he believed South Africa’s claims were “malicious”. Strauss said “We’re not particularly happy about it and I strongly refute the allegations.”

I believe the English are simply trying to deflect the attention away from their ill-disciplined behaviour. I don;t think they’ll be stupid enough to try it again anytime soon, but the ICC should punish them for cheating!

England drew the 3rd test against South Africa at Newlands to ensure they cannot lose the series.

England started the day at 132/3, and the morning session was fairly even. South Africa would have been happy to have snared 2 wickets to have England at 179/5 and in the box seat.

However Paul Collingwood and Ian Bell determinedly stuck to their task and frustrated the South African fast bowlers for 57.3 overs (almost 2 sessions) and ensured the last 4 batsmen only had to survive the last hour.

Crucially they survived the new ball which was probably the key to their draw. Dale Steyn bowled really well to the 2 right handers but just had no luck. Unfortunately he had minimal backup, and England only had to see him off.

After 20 overs in the last session, Graeme Smith turned to JP Duminy who made the breakthrough and English wickets started to fall. Eventually the last pair had to see off 17 deliveries in a thrilling finish.

The Proteas only have themselves to blame. They had 2 centurions during the match who both played tremendously important innings to set up a victory. However the bowling attack once again looked impotent. Having 140 overs in the 4th innings of a test match, with a target of 466, you have to back yourself to win.

Other than Steyn, we don’t have anyone who consistently asks enough questions of the batsmen. Steyn was poor to the left handers coming around the wicket and bowling wide of off stump. He really needs to concentrate on a straighter line and get the English batsmen playing.

Morne Morkel got 5 wickets in the first innings, but until he can bowl fuller deliveries and get the batsmen trying to drive, I can’t see him getting to many more 5 wicket bags. Friedel de Wet had a back injury, perhaps he was a little underdone? And Paul Harris has looked quite pedestrian this series.

Moving to the Wanderers, the best South Africa can hope for is a drawn series. No matter how many runs we score, if we can’t take 20 wickets, we’ll be staring down the barrel of a series defeat.