No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 review england v south africaNo1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 NoNo No No No No No No No No South Africa may not be able1 1 to 1ditch 1 the1 1choking 1 1 tag1 until they finally win No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No11 No1 No1 a World Cup but the bestNo1 sideNo1 No in1 No the1 No world1 No1 No on1 No paper1 No1 for the last two years No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 proved that they are Nothe1 No best1 No1 in No Tests1 No1 No by1 No comprehensively1 No1 No1 outplaying No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 England.No1 No SPIN’s1 No1 No1 reporters No1 No1 No1 were No1 No there.1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 NoBy1 NickNo1 No Sadleir1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 NoThe1 No series1 No was1 No billed1 No to1 be No an1 epic No 1and No 1 No1 Noalthough1 No1 No it 1did No not1 Nolet us1 No down1 No on1 the No 1 No1 Nocricketing1 No1 No front,1 No we1 No were1 Noleft1 short-changed No1 No1 No 1 Noby1 No its 1brevity. No1 NoIn 20081 No the1 No ECB1 andNo 1Cricket No1 No1 NoSouth1 No1 Africa No1 (CSA) No1 grantedNo1 No all1 futureNo1 No series1 No 1 Nobetween1 No1 No the1 twoNo 1sides No 1‘icon No 1status’ No1 andNo1 No1 Noagreed1 No1 that No1 all No series1 No would1 No henceforth1 No1 No 1 No1 Noconsist1 No1 ofNo five1 No Test1 Nomatches.1 No1 SadlyNo1 theNo 1 No1 NoagreementNo No wasNo notNo kept andNo theNo nextNo seriesNo between1 1 the1 sides,1 in 2009/101 1 in South1 1 1 NoAfrica,1 No1 was No played1 No1 over No1 only No 1four No Tests.1 No This1 No 1 Noyear’s1 No 1three-match No1 No1 affairNo1 Nowas1 anNo insult1 No to1 No1 Nothe1 No contest.1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 ItNo was1 No like1 going No1 toNo a1 triple-Michelin- No1 No1 No1 No1 Nostarred1 No1 restaurantNo1 No1 and No 1having No1 toNo leave1 No after1 No 1 Noonly1 No a1 few No mouthfuls1 No1 No of1 theNo 1main No 1course. No1 No1 No1 SouthNo1 No Africa1 No outplayed1 No1 No England1 No1 for No 1 No1 Nomuch1 No1 of No the1 series No1 andNo1 the No 2-01 scorelineNo1 No1 No1 Nowas1 No a 1fair No reflection1 No1 No of 1the No play1 No but1 Noa 1 No1 Nofull-length1 No1 No series1 No 1might No1 have No1 been No1 an No 1 No1 Noaltogether1 No1 No different1 No1 No animal.1 No1 Losing No1 Nothe 1first No 1 NoTest1 No in1 a No three-match1 No1 No series1 No puts1 No a1 side No in1 No1 Noa1 position No1 No from1 No which1 No it1 isNo hard1 No to1 recover No1 No 1 Noand1 No when1 No England1 No1 wereNo1 setNo 3451 No from1 No 1001 or No 1 Noso NooversNo to levelNo theNo seriesNo at Lord’s,No theyNo No were1 forced1 1 to go1 for the1 win1 to level1 the1 1 Noseries1 No1 and No hold1 No onto1 No their1 No number-one1 No1 No 1 No1 Noranking.1 No1 No It was1 No a thrilling1 No1 No last1 day No but1 No in1 No1 Notrying1 No1 to No win,1 Nothey1 lostNo1 a matchNo1 No that1 Noshould1 No 1 Nonot1 No have1 No been1 No too1 difficultNo1 No 1to No draw.1 No Two1 No1 Nomore1 No 1tests No might1 No1 have No 1given No1 them No1 a No chance1 No 1 Noto1 Noget1 back No into1 No the1 No series.1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 EnglandNo1 No were1 No entirely1 No1 outclassedNo1 No1 atNo the1 No 1 NoOval1 No but1 No competed1 No1 Nostrongly1 No 1at No Headingley1 No1 No 1 Noand1 No Lord’s.1 No 1It isNo the1 Nooldest1 No cliché1 No - catches1 No1 No1 Nowin1 No matches1 No1 -No but1 England No1 No might1 No 1have No 1 No1 Nofared1 No far1 No better1 No if 1it weren’tNo1 No for1 theNo 1nine No 1 No1 Nocatches1 No1 theyNo1 droppedNo1 No over1 No the1 Nothree1 NoTests.1 No 1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 20 Spin OCTOBER 2012 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1

Hashim Amla the first of many centuries, The Oval (Sarah Ansell)

OCTOBER 2012 Spin 21 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 reviewNo1 No1 No england1 No1 No 1v Nosouth1 No 1africa No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 Hashim Amla was dropped at the Oval on No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 40 before going on to make 311 and he was No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 dropped on two at Lord’s before scoring 121. No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 It was sad that the Kevin Pietersen affair No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 dominated the news more than the cricket No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 at stages but it was promising for England No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 that his replacement, Jonny Bairstow, also No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 looks a special player. No No No No No No No No No For South Africa this was a series win to 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 be treasured as much as any other before No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 it. As he did with India, Gary Kirsten has No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 coached his side to the top of the rankings. No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 His hard work and excellent cricket brain No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 have delivered results from a team with No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 whom he shares great rapport. In his tenth No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 year as captain, Graeme Smith has not No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 lost an away series for six years and he led No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 from the front by scoring 131 runs at the No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 Oval and then making a perfectly timed No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 declaration. South Africa devoted the series No1Below: No 1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 victory to Mark Boucher, who was forced to retire from cricket when his eye was badly No1Kevin No Pietersen1 No cleaned1 No up1 by No 1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1Morne No 1Morkel No (Sarah1 No Ansell).1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 injured in a warm-up match in Taunton – the third Test at Lord’s would have been No1Right No top:1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No No No No No No No No No the 150th and final Test of the career of the 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 most successful wicketkeeper of all time. No ABNo de VilliersNo keeping.No The injuryNo No No No No 1to Mark1 Boucher 1 made South1 1 1 1 1 1 The Proteas’ next tour is a three- No1Africa No even1 No more1 formidable No1 withNo 1 No1 No1 No1 No1 match series in Australia in November. No1Kallis No and1 ABNo as 1all-rounders No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 (Sarah Ansell). Should they avoid defeat there, then No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 one can expect them to hold the top-of- No1Right No Bottom:1 No 1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 the-rankings mace (or has it become a No1The No evergreen1 No Jacques1 No Kallis1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 poisoned chalice?) for some time to come. No1becomes No1 SouthNo 1Africa’s No 1third No 1 No1 No1 No1 No1 They will surely fancy their chances at No1centurion No1 atNo The 1Oval No (Getty).1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 home against New Zealand and Pakistan No1Right No opposite:1 No 1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 after that. No side has managed to stay No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 number one for long since the demise Graeme Smith batting and of Australia but South Africa have the No1battling No1 his No way 1to seeingNo 1off No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1his No third1 England No1 captain No (Sarah1 No 1 No1 No1 No1 No1 individuals and perhaps now the team to No1Ansell). No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 change that. No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 22No 1Spin No1 OCTOBERNo1 No 20121 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 First Test: England v South average of 31.5 runs per wicket. No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 Africa at The Oval - Jul 19-23, England started the Test well as they No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 won the toss and went to stumps on the No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 2012 first day on 267/3. The next morning’s No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 newspapers questioned the ferocity of No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 England 385 and 240; South Africa the South African attack but by the time 637/2d No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 a typical reader might have thumbed his No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 way to the sports pages, England were all No No No No No No No No No South Africa won by an innings and out for 385 and South Africa were on their 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 No No No No No No No No No 12 runs merry way to a colossal 637 all out. Graeme 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Smith (131) quietened his critics with a No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 By Nick Sadleir defiant ton before Jacques Kallis (182 not No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 out) joined Hashim Amla (311 not out) in a No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 South Africa had not won a Test match at brutal and relentless unbeaten partnership No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 the Oval in any of its previous 13 attempts of 377 runs that not only took the game No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 and this curious statistic may have had away from England, but shattered their No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 something to do with the ECB’s decision spirit. It was the first time that England has No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 to stage the first Test of this all-important ever conceded consecutive partnerships No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 series in South London. If this fact was in excess of 250 runs and it was an awful No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 indeed behind moving the first Test from way for the hosts to begin such a vital and No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 its traditional home at Lord’s then the plan hyped-up series and the fact that the first No No No No No No No No No backfired horridly as England were most 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 day had gone so well for them amplified No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 comprehensively beaten by an innings and the hammering blow to their morale – such 12 runs. No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 a staggering turnaround in fortune would No No No No No No No No No In fact the beating was so comprehensive prove decisive not only in the first Test but 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 that if one takes the difference in batting in the series. No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 averages of the two teams as a measure Amla was virtually untroubled during No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 of the margin of defeat then this was the his 789-minute vigil at the crease and his No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 most one-sided Test match of all time. innings marked the first occasion where a No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 South Africa lost only two wickets at an South African has scored a triple hundred. No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 average of 318.5 runs per wicket whilst It was surprising that Smith did not No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 England were bowled out twice at an allow him to push for a few more as the No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1OCTOBER No1 No 20121 No Spin1 No 231 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 reviewNo1 No1 No england1 No1 No 1v Nosouth1 No 1africa No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 BottomNo1 left: No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 skipper declared earlier than most pundits were more drops and ‘what ifs’. Had Cook No1 PietersenNo1 Noshows1 how No much1 Nohis 1 No1 No1 No1 No1 expected, at tea on day four. not dropped Alviro Petersen in the slips, No1 centuryNo1 at No Headingley1 No means1 No to 1 No1 No1 No1 No1 252 runs behind and with only four had England picked Swann, had Pietersen No1 himNo (Getty).1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 sessions to play on a good batting deck, not got out cheaply in the second innings England - even by their captain Andrew run chase, the whole series might have No1 BottomNo1 right: No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 Strauss’s admission – should have taken a different turn. No1 AlviroNo 1Petersen’s No1 182 No off 1365 No 1 No1 No1 No1 No1 managed a draw. But their batsmen’s Taylor’s debut went well - he scored balls was less flamboyant, but minds were not up to the task. After an effective 34 (although Pietersen No equallyNo vitalNo (Getty).No No No No No No 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 taking only two wickets in the previous allegedly had a different view of it) - but No Right:No No No No No No No No 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 six sessions England would then concede most importantly played an impressive No No No No No No No No No 1 South1 Africa celebrate1 winning1 1 1 1 1 1 four quick wickets in that evening session, supportive role to Pietersen at his No1 theNo Lord’s1 No Test, 1the No series,1 and No 1 No1 No1 No1 No1 exposing the extent to which chasing extravagant best. That innings of 149 gave No1 becomingNo1 No the number1 No 1 1Test No 1 No1 No1 No1 No1 side in the world (Sarah Ansell). leather for thirteen hours had got to them. England a narrow first innings lead of six. No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 Even on the fifth day it looked as if Going into the final day, it looked like No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 England could make their counterparts the draw would be the only result, even No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 bat again and save a draw as Ian Bell (55) more so after two rain stoppages in the No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 kept out 220 balls, but Steyn eventually morning session. South Africa began No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 dismissed Bell and the English middle the day with a lead of 33 and the opening No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 order did not put up enough resistance partnership lasted until right before lunch. No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 even to make it to tea. Smith’s declaration After Amla was caught by Cook leaving No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 looked very smart with hindsight as the visitors 182-3, wickets fell at regular No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 England appeared to play for a lead as intervals. In an uncharacteristic display No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 much as just to play for time and the came of throwing caution to the wind, Graeme No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 unstuck as they lost too many wickets to Smith declared on 258 setting England No No No No No No No No No loose shots. an unlikely, but possible, 253 runs in 39 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 It is difficult to lose the first Test in any overs. Pietersen was sent in at the top of No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 series but when a side does so in a series of the order to set about the run chase but No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 only three Tests - especially when the loss only for a brief moment was there a sense No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 is cited as the most comprehensive victory that something exciting might be about to No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 in the history of the game - it then becomes happen. Once Pietersen was caught off the No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 hard for a side to believe they can still win bowling of Philander for just 12 off eight No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 the series. No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 Second Test: England v South No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 Africa at Leeds - Aug 2-6, 2012 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 South Africa 419 and 258/9d; No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 England 425 and 130/4 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 Match drawn No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 By Lizzy Ammon No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 Having been monumentally thrashed in No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 the first Test at the Oval, England made the No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 controversial decision to play four seamers No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 at Headingley and leave out Graeme No No No No No No No No No Swann. It proved to be a big mistake. Ravi 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Bopara withdrew from selection, stating No No No No No No No No No 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 unspecific personal reasons, making room No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 for James Taylor to come in to bat at six. No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 The decision to leave out Swann had an No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 air of panic about it after the defeat in the No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 first Test. No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 With 70 overs of the match lost to rain, No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 it was a match of mostly cautious and No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 attritional cricket. Having won the toss No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 and decided to bowl in helpful conditions, No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 England would have hoped to bowl out No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 South Africa for far fewer than 419. There No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 24No 1Spin No1 OCTOBERNo1 No 20121 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 balls, Strauss came in and it was clear that in the second innings. No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 England were just going to try and see out But achievements on the pitch were No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 the draw. It got slightly hairy for England overshadowed in the ensuing soap opera. No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 at 106-4 with 19.2 overs remaining, but Bell No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 and Trott steadied any nerves. No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 It is Kevin Pietersen that this match will Third Test: England v South No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 be remembered for. Firstly, because it may Africa at Lord’s - Aug 16-20, 2012 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 well be his last match for England. His No No No No No No No No No relationship with his employers began to 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 South Africa 309 and 351; England No No No No No No No No No unravel following the emotional “It’s tough 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 315 and 294 being me” press conference after the last No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 day of the Test on August 6. He said that he No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 South Africa won by 51 runs was considering retiring from Test cricket No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 because of dressing-room politics. No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 By Nick Sadleir Perhaps he felt unsackable or No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 impregnable after his 149, which is what No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 The lead-up to this final battle was the match should have been remembered No No No No No No No No No dominated by the Kevin Pietersen saga. 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 for. It was one of the finest innings by After scoring a terrific and match-saving No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 an England batsman in a generation. He 149 at Headingley, England dropped their No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 showed us some quite breathtaking shots. star batsman on a matter of principle after No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 And then there was his bowling. With revelations that he had betrayed his team No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 no spinner in the side, it was KP to whom and specifically his captain by sending No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 Strauss threw the ball to try and save his derogatory text messages about them to No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 blushes when the pitch started producing the South African team. He was replaced by No No No No No No No No No some prodigious turn. And KP duly 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 the gutsy young Jonny Bairstow. No No No No No No No No No obliged with his best international bowling 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 As was the case in the opening Test at figures. He picked up the wicket of Rudolph No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 the Oval, England started well and were in the first innings and most importantly No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 then outplayed and succumbed to the took the wickets of the top three batsmen No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1OCTOBER No1 No 20121 No Spin1 No 251 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 reviewNo1 No1 No england1 No1 No 1v Nosouth1 No 1africa No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 Bottom:No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 visitors, who snatched the world number in sick. But such is the nature of the cricket No1 EnglandNo1 playersNo1 after No losing1 Nothe 1 No1 No1 No1 No1 one ranking when England’s rollercoaster beast that it surprises you when you least No1 Test,No series1 No and1 their No position1 No 1 No1 No1 No1 No1 chase of 346 for victory ended 51-runs short expect it – England had little incentive to as the No 1 Test side (Sarah of the mark in front of an enthralled day draw the game and were to attempt an No1 Ansell).No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 five crowd. audacious win. A run-a-ball partnership No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 South Africa won the toss but were 54-4 of 89 between Jonathan Trott (63) and a No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 at lunch on day one as Steven Finn and daring Jonny Bairstow (54 off only 47 balls) No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 James Anderson wrecked their top order. allowed the idea of leveling the series to No No No No No No No No No They recovered so well thanks to Duminy, creep back into English minds. Matthew 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Rudolph and Philander that they might Prior (73) did his utmost to convert the No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 have hoped for more than 309 all out. dream into reality and his partners Stuart No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 They then had England struggling at 54-4 Broad (37) and Graeme Swann (41) turned No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 themselves before in an innings made for the evening into the perfect advertisement No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 the theatre of Pietersen’s absence, young for Test cricket. When England needed 64 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 Bairstow compiled an excellent 94. runs to win at under three runs an over No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 England eked out a six-run lead but yet and with three wickets in hand there was No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 again failed to take routine catches given a realistic chance that we were about to No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 very early in the innings of Hashim Amla witness one of the most sensational days No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 (120), AB de Villiers (43) and JP Duminy (26 in Test match cricket history. No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 not out). They allowed the Proteas to put The drama ended when man-of-the- No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 up 351 second-innings runs and the poor match Vernon Philander dismissed No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 fielding probably cost them the match. Prior and Steven Finn with consecutive No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 Disaster, in the increasingly familiar deliveries with the second new ball, No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 shape of Philander, struck, as Cook and handing South Africa a deserved win. No No No No No No No No No Strauss (in what turned out to be his last Philander’s two highest Test scores of 61 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Test innings) were both trapped LBW and 35 and his match returns of 7/78 with No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 by balls coming back into them. After 13 the ball swung the match in SA’s favour, No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 examining overs on the fourth evening, but one cannot help but think that had No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 England were reeling at 16 for two. England held their catches and not had two No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 That soon became 45-4 on the fifth shambolic second-innings run-outs, then No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 morning and, with 301 more runs needed, this match would not have been captain No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 many of the 15,000 or so who filed into the Andrew Strauss’s last. No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 Lord’s ground might have regretted calling No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 26No 1Spin No1 OCTOBERNo1 No 20121 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 England batting averages No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 Player Mat Inns NO Runs HS Ave BF SR 100No 150 No 1 No0 1 No4s1 No16s No1 No1 No1 No1 JM Bairstow 1 2 0 149 95 74.50 243 61.31 0 No12 No 1 No0 1 No211 No10 No1 No1 No1 No1 KP Pietersen 2 4 0 219 149 54.75 311 70.41 1 No10 No 1 No0 1 No321 No11 No1 No1 No1 No1 GP Swann 2 4 2 100 41 50.00 116 86.20 0 No10 No 1 No0 1 No131 No12 No1 No1 No1 No1 MJ Prior 3 6 0 275 73 45.83 458 60.04 0 No13 No 1 No0 1 No351 No10 No1 No1 No1 No1 IJL Trott 3 6 1 217 71 43.40 492 44.10 0 No12 No 1 No0 1 No281 No10 No1 No1 No1 No1 AN Cook 3 6 0 195 115 32.50 484 40.28 1 No 0No No1 No19 No2 No No No No IR Bell 3 6 1 144 58 28.80 533 27.01 0 12 1 0 1 151 11 1 1 1 1 TT Bresnan 2 3 1 37 20* 18.50 143 25.87 0 No10 No 1 No0 1 No31 No10 No1 No1 No1 No1 AJ Strauss 3 6 0 107 37 17.83 269 39.77 0 No10 No 1 No1 1 No131 No10 No1 No1 No1 No1 JWA Taylor 2 3 0 48 34 16.00 152 31.57 0 No10 No 1 No0 1 No61 No10 No1 No1 No1 No1 SCJ Broad 3 5 0 70 37 14.00 105 66.66 0 No10 No 1 No1 1 No61 No11 No1 No1 No1 No1 RS Bopara 1 2 0 22 22 11.00 61 36.06 0 No10 No 1 No1 1 No31 No10 No1 No1 No1 No1 JM Anderson 3 5 1 30 12 7.50 74 40.54 0 No 0No No0 No3 No0 No No No No ST Finn 2 3 1 10 10 5.00 35 28.57 0 10 1 1 1 11 10 1 1 1 1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 England bowling averages No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 Player Mat Inns Overs Mdns Runs Wkts BBI BBM Ave EconNo 1SR No 1 No5 1 No10 1Ct No 1St No1 No1 No1 No1 No No No No No No No No No KP Pietersen 2 3 19.0 1 91 4 3/52 4/78 22.75 4.78 128.5 1 0 1 0 10 10 1 1 1 1 ST Finn 2 4 91.0 12 322 10 4/74 8/149 32.20 3.53No 154.6 No 1 No0 1 No0 10 No 10 No1 No1 No1 No1 SCJ Broad 3 5 130.4 24 437 11 5/69 8/165 39.72 3.34No 171.2 No 1 No1 1 No0 10 No 10 No1 No1 No1 No1 JM Anderson 3 5 147.4 33 366 9 3/76 5/149 40.66 2.47No 198.4 No 1 No0 1 No0 11 No10 No1 No1 No1 No1 GP Swann 2 3 123.2 30 308 4 2/63 4/157 77.00 2.49No 1185.0 No1 No0 1 No0 11 No10 No1 No1 No1 No1 TT Bresnan 2 3 73.0 8 278 2 1/98 1/138 139.00 3.80No 1219.0 No1 No0 1 No0 11 No10 No1 No1 No1 No1 IJL Trott 3 4 19.0 2 46 0 - - - 2.42No 1- No1 No0 1 No0 10 No10 No1 No1 No1 No1 RS Bopara 1 1 18.0 1 78 0 - - - 4.33No 1- No1 No0 1 No0 10 No10 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No No No No No No No No No South Africa batting averages 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 Player Mat Inns NO Runs HS Ave BF SR 100No 150 No 1 No0 1 No4s1 No16s No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 HM Amla 3 5 1 482 311* 120.50 819 58.85 2 No10 No 1 No0 1 No541 No10 No1 No1 No1 No1 JP Duminy 3 4 2 135 61 67.50 346 39.01 0 No11 No 1 No1 1 No161 No10 No1 No1 No1 No1 JH Kallis 3 5 1 262 182* 65.50 455 57.58 1 No 0No No0 No34 No2 No No No No AN Petersen 3 5 1 244 182 61.00 521 46.83 1 10 1 1 1 331 10 1 1 1 1 GC Smith 3 5 0 272 131 54.40 575 47.30 1 No12 No 1 No0 1 No321 No10 No1 No1 No1 No1 AB de Villiers 3 4 0 161 47 40.25 299 53.84 0 No10 No 1 No0 1 No241 No10 No1 No1 No1 No1 JA Rudolph 3 4 0 141 69 35.25 328 42.98 0 No11 No 1 No0 1 No211 No10 No1 No1 No1 No1 VD Philander 3 4 0 115 61 28.75 188 61.17 0 No11 No 1 No0 1 No151 No10 No1 No1 No1 No1 M Morkel 3 4 0 63 25 15.75 89 70.78 0 No10 No 1 No0 1 No101 No10 No1 No1 No1 No1 DW Steyn 3 4 0 38 26 9.50 102 37.25 0 No10 No 1 No1 1 No51 No10 No1 No1 No1 No1 Imran Tahir 3 3 1 3 2* 1.50 12 25.00 0 No10 No 1 No1 1 No01 No10 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 South Africa bowling averages No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 Player Mat Inns Overs Mdns Runs Wkts BBI BBM Ave EconNo 1SR No 1 No5 1 No10 1Ct No 1St No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 VD Philander 3 6 120.5 34 284 12 5/30 7/78 23.66 2.35 60.4 1 0 1 0 JP Duminy 3 4 11.0 2 28 1 1/10 1/15 28.00 2.54No 166.0 No 1 No0 1 No0 12 No 10 No1 No1 No1 No1 DW Steyn 3 6 131.0 30 438 15 5/56 7/155 29.20 3.34No 152.4 No 1 No1 1 No0 11 No10 No1 No1 No1 No1 M Morkel 3 6 128.2 24 380 11 4/72 5/113 34.54 2.96No 170.0 No 1 No0 1 No0 10 No 10 No1 No1 No1 No1 JH Kallis 3 6 65.0 18 180 4 2/38 2/60 45.00 2.76No 197.5 No 1 No0 1 No0 16 No 10 No1 No1 No1 No1 Imran Tahir 3 6 116.4 13 378 8 3/63 4/124 47.25 3.24No 187.5 No 1 No0 1 No0 11 No10 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1OCTOBER No1 No 20121 No Spin1 No 271 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1 No1