‘England rely too much on Ben Stokes’
South Africa v England
First Test, Boxing Day, 8am
SOUTH AFRICAN cricket faces its biggest crisis in 50 years – but batting legend Barry Richards believes the hosts can still leave England in a mess this winter.
Richards said: “England are vulnerable. I don’t think they’re as strong as people are making them out to be.
“People are saying that it will be 3-0 and that England will come over here and dominate. I don’t agree with that. England’s batting is very fragile and they’re very reliant on Ben Stokes.
“You take him out of this England side and things might have been very different over the past couple of years.
“South Africa just have to show they’ve got the stomach for the fight.”
The build-up to the tour has been rocked by a series of scandals.
Thabang Moroe, the chief executive of Cricket South Africa, was suspended earlier this month over allegations of misconduct.
Meanwhile, a coach for the England series was appointed only last weekend, despite the previous one – Ottis Gibson – being sacked back in August.
South Africa then named six uncapped players in their squad to take on England in the opening Test at Centurion on Boxing Day.
With the financial state of the governing body still unclear, Richards believes things could soon get even worse.
Off the pitch, at least.
On it, he expects a contest – and believes it would be a big mistake for England to underestimate their hosts.
Richards played only four Tests – all against Australia – before South Africa’s exclusion from the international scene in 1970, due to the government’s policy of apartheid.
But he was a prolific batsman for Hampshire, scoring 2,400 runs in his first season.
He said: “This isn’t something that has just happened, it’s been brewing for the past five or so years.
“For South Africa, this has the potential to be the biggest crisis since 1970, no doubt about that.
“In terms of preparation, this has been as bad as it could possibly get. But I think that our new coach Mark Boucher will be a positive influence.
“He’s a no-nonsense man and he proved that on the field in the past. And we play well at home – that’s the real advantage for us. The bowling is of a good Test standard. What worries me is whether we can get
enough runs.”