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The Proteas are well primed to register another series win in England, and with it, consolidate their top positioning in the ongoing World Test Championship 2023 table.
England had a resounding start to the Brendon McCullum-Ben Stokes era, with them winning each of their four Tests at the start of the ongoing home summer by a convincing margin. That each of those wins came while chasing totals in excess of 250 – a first of its kind sequence in Test history – against New Zealand and India, the finalists of the inaugural WTC, made them a side to beat at home.
However, they were comprehensively undone by Dean Elgar’s men, who managed an innings and 12 runs within the first three days, despite more than half of opening day’s play being lost with rain. The full-pronged pace attack, comprising Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Lungi Ngidi and Marco Jansen, rattled England’s in-form line-up, bundling them out for 165 in the first innings, with spinner Keshav Maharaj playing his part in the second which ended at 149.
Openers Elgar and Sarel Erwee showcased great application against James Anderson, Stuart Broad and the rest, and key lower-order contributions ensured that the hosts were not offered a sniff.
A win for South Africa in the second Test at Old Trafford beginning August 25 would help them register their third series win in England this century; no other team has managed two.
As for England, there would still be an inclination to stick to the refreshening aggressive-brand of cricket that has fetched them the desired results recently, but there’s almost no margin for error against a well-rounded and determined Proteas unit.
Key players
The top-ranked batter in the ICC Test rankings currently, Joe Root has been in prime form for the last two years, and that glorious run has played its part in England’s success this season, underlined by match-winning scores of 115*, 176, 86* and 142* – the three unbeaten knocks coming in the fourth innings. He has scored 781 runs at 65.08 at Old Trafford till date – an aggregate exceeded only by Denis Compton (818) – including a career-best 254 against Pakistan six years ago.
Stuart Broad became only the second fast-bowler to register 100-plus wickets at a single venue during the first Test at Lord’s but had an unimpressive outing overall. He would be confident to produce the goods at Old Trafford, wherein he has bagged 40 wickets at an impressive 19.65, the second-best tally at the venue after Alec Bedser’s 51 scalps.
Known for his determined approach at the crease, aided by a solid technique, Dean Elgar will be expected to hold his side’s innings together, and produce a significant score if the opportunity presents itself. He appeared rock-solid during an 81-ball 47 at Lord’s, an innings ended by an unlucky drag onto the stumps. South Africa would hope that fortune changes for the good in Manchester.
Kagiso Rabada was at his fiery best at Lord’s, getting his name on the prestigious Honours Boards with a first-innings five-for and followed that up 2/27 in the second. He went past 250 Test wickets in just his 53rd game, joining yesteryear South Africa greats Dale Steyn, Shaun Pollock, Makhaya Ntini, Allan Donald, Morne Morkel and Jacques Kallis in the club. Rabada, the fifth-ranked Test bowler currently, has bagged 30 wickets at 18.83 from just five Tests in 2022, and that form promises much for the remainder of the series.
Prediction
South Africa came into the ongoing series having won against India at home and a 1-1 draw in New Zealand, with a number of their experienced, as well as young match-winners blossoming under Elgar. Their bowlers had the better of England batters twice within just 82.4 overs combined, and the form and intensity suggest that the challenge will stiffen further as the series progresses.
Though England’s newly embraced aggression has fetched them success recently, the visitors begin as favourites for the second Test to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
