YOU CAN’T RELYON MIRACLES , JOE

Learn to bat well in the first innings & take 20 wickets

ENGLAND’S Test cricketers ended 2019 the same way they began it, with another crushing defeat.

In January it was the West Indies who gave them a hiding after a four-test losing streak.

This time it was a South Africa team, beaten in their previous five matches, who triumphed by 107 runs.

What have England learned in between? What have they improved in 11 months? Sadly the answer is not a lot.

They are still making the same mistakes and it is costing them just as heavily, with only four wins out of 12, including one against Ireland, across the year.

They have become experts, not in taking 20 wickets or posting giant first-innings scores, but rather in playing catch-up cricket.

Poor first-innings performances with the bat are the most consistent aspect of Joe Root’s side, although here in Centurion there was disappointment with ball too.

Despite reducing South Africa to 111-5, they allowed them to post a total of 284.

And by crumbling from 142-3 to 181 all out, England put themselves so far behind the game it became impossible to make it up, even with Ben Stokes and the miracle of Headingley swirling around their heads.

“We turned up with real belief we could win the Test,” said Root.

“At lunch me and Ben looked at the scenario and it was the same equation as at Leeds not so long ago, but we weren’t able to negotiate the second new ball. What’s frustrating me is when we find ourselves behind the game, we show a lot of character, fight and determination, and we find ways of getting ourselves back into fixtures.

“We need to do that at the start, get ahead of it, and when we get the opportunity to turn the screw, we really need to take it, both with bat and ball.”

Root must remain positive in the knowledge this captivating and hugely competitive Test match could be a signal for a terrific series with two closelymatched teams.

The bowling attacks in both teams are far better than their batting, with South Africa pacemen Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje taking four and three wickets respectively as England were bowled out for 268 on day four.

There was real menace from Nortje, who roughed up Root before dismissing him for 48, and he also hit Stuart Broad flush in the grille before Rabada cleaned him up.

The hope that had been provided by the top order on day three slid by the wayside as Keshav Maharaj grabbed the big wicket of Stokes, while the less said about Jonny Bairstow’s approach to the second new ball the better.

As good value as South Africa were for the win, it cannot be ignored that England had by far the greater challenge trying to play this match with illness sweeping through the squad.

Broad, Jofra Archer, Stokes, Root and Jos Buttler were all affected either before or during the game, which clearly had an impact on their fitness, their energy, and the overall performance.

It is not an excuse, far from it, but if there is not a big upturn in performance in

Cape Town when the team are healthy and better prepared then they really are in trouble.