INVESTEC 3RD TEST Root is facing a
Applaud the Oval for great century
JOE ROOT suggested with a sheepish smile that his “honeymoon period” as England captain had not lasted long before the dark clouds had started to roll in.
One sunny week at Lord’s and that, pretty much, was that.
But if the bruises are still smarting ahead of his third Test match in charge, the new England captain insisted there is a steely determination in his dressing room to put things back on track. Injury has forced him to shuffle his pack, handing debuts to at least two players in Toby RolandJones and Tom Westley, and possibly a third in Dawid Malan, but he is adamant they can retake the series lead.
“The lads have gone away this week and come back with a very clear focus,” he said. “We really want to get it right out there when we get the opportunity.
“We weren’t at our best in the second Test and there’s no point hiding behind any excuses – we know we’re better than that and this week is an opportunity to put that right.”
Root insists, with some justification, that the 340run defeat at Trent Bridge was not an accurate reflection of the talent at his disposal.
Yet South Africa’s improvement in personnel and form since the opener would suggest neither was England’s 211-run victory at Lord’s.
The truth lies somewhere in the middle, which makes this third instalment at the Kia Oval starting today fascinating– if a REPORTS little daunting for a side with such inexperience, not least of which at the helm.
Westley, 28, and RolandJones and Malan, both 29, are seasoned professionals who have not only done well in the County Championship and with England Lions but who have impressed England in the build-up to this Test. It is not a case of nudging helpless lambs to face the South African attack.
And there must be an acceptance that Root has to find his way with the make-up of his squad.
For any new captain, sometimes those players come from left field. The selection of Jonathan Trott under Andrew Strauss and of THE OVAL will today join an exclusive group of just four grounds to host a century of Test matches, the others being Sydney Cricket Ground, the Melbourne Cricket Ground and Lord’s.
And it is a venue with a history as rich and storied as any in the world.
This ground staged the first FA Cup final in 1872 – Wanderers beating Royal Engineers 1-0 in front of just 2,000 people – and was used as a POW camp in 1944, as well as Moeen Ali under Alastair Cook took plenty by surprise, but both went on to establish themselves as certainties on the teamsheet.
Root also needs time to work out who he can trust ahead of the Ashes and there is no better way than in a backs-to-the-wall situation against South Africa.
An hour after Root had left the Committee Room at the Oval, South Africa skipper Faf du Plessis was asked for his views about captaincy, and they were illuminating. He said: “When I took over, the Test team was in a dark place and I had a vision of where I wanted us to go, and a blueprint for getting there.
“But getting there doesn’t always happen. You have to be patient and wait for it to unfold.
“As a young captain, its important to find your own style of captaincy. I played under a lot of good leaders, so I spoke a lot and listened a lot about leadership. You take little bits off everyone and form your own identity.
“From there you just trust it, you stay patient with it. If you know you’ve got the right people on board and the right processes, hopefully the results will come.”
Du Plessis, who has not lost any of his four series as captain staging many of cricket’s most memorable occasions.
The great Don Bradman may not have great cause to remember it with fondness, however.
Arriving here in 1948 needing four runs to end his career with an average of 100, he was out for a duck second ball to leg-spinner Eric Hollies, pinning his average at a mere 99.94. But
HOW THEY LINE UP (probable) Cook, Jennings, Westley, Root (c), Malan, Stokes, Bairstow (wkt), Ali, Roland-Jones, Broad, Anderson.
You have to find your own style
and has lost just one match in 12 (in Adelaide last November), is well aware that Root may be at his most vulnerable early in his tenure.
He was also honest enough to suggest South Africa know that if they can pressure Root the batsman, Root the captain is more likely to others will have happier memories. South African Hashim Amla spent more than 13 hours at the crease, his 311 not out against England in 2012 being the highest Test score made by anyone still alive, bettered only by the 364 made here in 1938 by Sir Len Hutton as part of the then Test record for one innings of 903-7 (Aussie bowler Chuck Fleetwood-Smith went for 1-298 from 87 overs). struggle. “It’s a case of once again putting pressure on the opposition, whether that’s the England team or Joe as captain,” he said. “He has played enough cricket to understand tactically what to do and is obviously a fantastic batsman. “Joe is their No1 batsman and if you can put pressure on him by getting him out then obviously the pressure will fall on to the team.” The pressure will become difficult to bear at some stage over the next four days and England must find a little more muscle than they did in Nottingham. “We need to make sure we are doing everything we can to help each other and when it is tough we really need to get tight,” said Root. The skipper’s honeymoon may be over, but that sounds like the secret to any successful marriage. The ground also witnessed one of Kevin Pietersen’s greatest innings if not haircuts – his shocking skunk ‘do’, left. It was here that his 158 staved off defeat and secured the Ashes in the classic 2005 series.
With the ball few will do better than in 1994, when Devon Malcolm was inspired by a bouncer from Fanie de Villiers, which hit his helmet. An angry Malcolm told South African fielders: “You guys are history”, before proceeding to take 9-57 in 16.3 overs to win the game.