‘We can’t let England off hook again’
SOUTH AFRICA will not only have to overturn the weight of history but an England team who will be confident of backing up their comprehensive Lord’s win with another dominant display at Trent Bridge.
The cold, hard facts for the tourists do not look good.
They have not won a Test in Nottingham since 1951 and have lost the two they have played here since readmission – in 1998 and 2003.
If they are to buck that trend they will have to do so without Kagiso Rabada, their brilliant young fast bowler who is banned for this match.
They, at least, have captain Faf du Plessis back from the paternity leave that forced him out of his country’s 211-run defeat in the first Test.
However, an unchanged England are full of belief that they can take a 2-0 series lead at a ground where they are not only unbeaten in seven Tests but where their two most senior bowlers feel more at home than anywhere in the world.
This is pretty much James Anderson’s stage. Nobody has taken more wickets at Trent Bridge than the leader of England’s attack, who has 53 in eight Tests.
Then there is Stuart Broad, for whom this ground is home and where, on England’s last Test appearance here in 2015, he produced the most remarkable spell of his career, taking 8-15 as Australia were routed for 60 on the first morning.
Joe Root, whose Test captaincy got off to the perfect start at Lord’s last week, said: “I think Stuart’s excited to get another opportunity to bowl on his home ground.
“We’ve played some good cricket here over the last four or five years and we want to make sure that continues this week.”
As well as Broad and Anderson, England will have two more seamers to call on in Mark Wood and Ben Stokes.
Wood, in his only appearance here, took four wickets in the 2015 Ashes Test. Stokes has eight wickets at 22.12 in his two Tests in Nottingham.
It was spin that held sway at Lord’s last week, where Moeen Ali took his first 10-wicket match haul in Tests. But it is no surprise that Root is looking forward to unleashing his four-pronged pace attack at the most seamfriendly venue in the country.
“We’re going in with the same team because it gives us balance and if spin does come into it later in the game we’ve got plenty of options,” said Root.
“It might be that the seamers play a bigger part this week and that excites me.
“Broady, Jimmy, Woody and Stokesy only bowling a handful of overs in the second innings last week means they’re nice and fresh and when they get the opportunity this week, hopefully, they’re still fresh.”
South Africa look set to make three changes to their team for this second Test.
Du Plessis has confirmed that JP Duminy will be dropped to accommodate his return to the side, while Duanne Olivier will replace Rabada.
It is expected that Chris Morris will also come into the XI for Theunis de Bruyn, giving South Africa the option of four out-andout seam bowlers to call on.
Du Plessis is keen not to focus too much on either England’s or his own country’s record at Trent Bridge, saying:“We know that the ball is conducive to the swing and seam bowlers but we have a quality attack.
“I’ve never been a guy to get too focused on past results. It’s about getting out there and seeing what the pitch offers and how you react.”
Du Plessis has also taken hope from the fact South Africa caused England to collapse in both innings at Lord’s even if they didn’t take full advantage on either occasion.
“That’s something that is not being mentioned enough – there were times England found themselves under pressure,” he said. “The disappointing thing was just how quickly they got out of it. When they threw a punch back at us, we just sat back and let it happen, expecting something to change and it never did and that is where we let the game slip.”
With Rabada banned and Duminy dropped, South Africa will not field a team that meets the requirements of their quota system, which dictates there must be six ‘players of colour’ in their XI, including two black Africans.
Du Plessis, though, says it is not an issue for this one match.
“That’s through a season,” he said.“With the challenges we are facing now it wouldn’t be possible. For me it was important to get that out and make it public knowledge.”