LONDON, 12 July 2003 — South Africa’s big match temperament will be tested in today’s triangular series final against England at Lord’s here today. South Africa finished top of the tournament table but England lead them 2-1 after three previous series matches with both sides looking to recover from a disappointing World Cup.
At The Oval, South Africa were blown away by centuries from England openers Marcus Trescothick and Vikram Solanki. But at Old Trafford, tight bowling by Shaun Pollock and Makhaya Ntini put South Africa in charge early on before Jacques Kallis and Jacques Rudolph saw the Proteas home with the bat in commanding fashion.
Then at Edgbaston, Kallis (15) had his first failure of the series and South Africa were held to a meager 198 for nine. They then had England wobbling at 30 for three before one-day captain Vaughan and Flintoff eased the home side’s nerves.
South Africa captain Graeme Smith emphasized yesterday that “both new balls do a lot up front,” in English conditions. Much will depend on the new-ball attacks. Each side has a ‘fire-and-ice’ combination, Pollock providing the control for South Africa with Ntini the wicket-taking aggression. For England, James Anderson has been the man to do most damage while, unusually, Darren Gough has found himself in the role of steadying influence.
Pollock, remarkably in view of the accuracy of his bowling, has taken just four wickets in the series and, as he himself said yesterday, was due a change of luck.
As for the batting, Kallis will again be the key man for the Proteas. His Edgbaston failure excepted, Kallis has been in superlative form with two hundreds and a tournament average of 164.50.
His ability to pace an innings is something as yet unmatched in the England team. However, at the top of the order left-hander Trescothick has frequently got England off to a flying start. By contrast, Herschelle Gibbs has had a disappointing series. Apart from an unbeaten 93 against Zimbabwe at Cardiff today, all Gibbs’s other tournament innings have ended in single figure scores. Logic suggests that a player of his talent must come good soon but even as relaxed a character as Gibbs must now have at least a few doubts.
Meanwhile England’s plans for the final have been upset by pace bowler Richard Johnson’s latest injury problem.
Johnson was unable to complete his full quota of 10 overs on Tuesday because of a groin strain and during a fitness Test at Lord’s yesterday bowled well below full pace. As he is also a hard-hitting lower-order batsman, Johnson’s absence would alter the balance of England’s team. Durham quick Stephen Harmison, the most obvious replacement for Johnson, has seen his last five overs in One-Day Internationals go for 45 runs and no wickets. He is also a genuine tailend batsman.
Thorpe Ready for
England Recall: Report
In London, England batsman Graham Thorpe has insisted he is ready to play international cricket again and no longer has any problems about going on tour.
“It’s important the selectors know where I stand on certain things in case they decide to pick me again,” Thorpe told yesterday’s London Evening Standard.
Surrey left-hander Thorpe, one of England’s few current world-class players, has not played for his country in nearly a year following personal problems brought about by the break-up of his marriage.
Bangladesh Fight Back
After Low Total
In Darwin, Australia, Bangladesh fought back with three quick wickets after being dismissed for 139 in their first innings by the Northern Territory Chief Minister’s XI in the cricket tour match here yesterday.
At the close of the second day of the four-day match, the Northern Territory XI were 32 for three in their second innings after making a modest 189 on Thursday.
Rising Australian batting star Michael Clarke, who made a solid 79 in the first innings, was bowled for one by left-arm seamer Manjural Islam to have the locals struggling at five for three.
It was Manjural’s second wicket in his first three overs, after he snared the wicket of local Nick Berry for a duck in the first over. Ian Redpath was the second NT wicket to fall, bowled by quick Mashrafe Mortaza in the second over, also for a duck. Local Ashley Williams and Kenneth Vowles consolidated and at stumps Williams was unbeaten on 13, while a huge six helped Vowles to 16 not out.
Drugs Ban Will Add Year
to My Career, Says Warne
Shane Warne yesterday put a positive spin on his 12-month drug suspension, saying it will add another year to his cricket career. Australia’s leading Test wicket-taker tested positive to a banned diuretic last February and was suspended from cricket for a year.
Hinting there might be few new mystery balls in his repertoire when he returns next year, 33-year-old Warne said in Sydney that his enforced lay-off should prolong his career.
Sri Lanka to Name Cricket
Academy After Muralitharan
In Colombo, Sri Lanka is to honor its top wicket-taker, Muttiah Muralitharan by naming the country’s main cricket academy after him, a press report here said yesterday.
The government decided on the naming to honor one of the most prolific wicket-takers in the modern game, the Island newspaper quoted Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe as saying.
The champion off-spinner with 459 Test scalps was given permission earlier this month by the cricket governing body’s executive committee to play six weeks of county cricket with Kent in England.
