England brace for invasion 1994
PROTEAS CONFIDENT Test squad hoping to put a miserable tour behind them.
The Proteas might have come up short in all three of their limited-overs assignments on their tour of England, but history alone should give them plenty of confidence as they go into the four-match Test series starting at Lord’s on Thursday.
South Africa’s famous win at Lord’s in 1994 in their first Test in England since readmission set the tone in a place that would become a happy hunting ground for the Proteas.
Out of their five series in England since readmission into international cricket, they have lost only one, while their last two outings resulted in famous back-toback wins.
South Africa have won eight from their 20 Tests in England since 1994 and lost six, while six have ended in a draw. Kepler Wessels (left) played a captain’s knock of 105 and had good lower-order support from Brian McMillan (29), Dave Richardson (26) and Craig Matthews (41) to guide the Proteas to 357 in their first innings. Allan Donald’s 5/74 helped South Africa take a 177-lead and eventually set the hosts an improbable target of 456 runs. England were rolled for 99 in their second innings after which a storm broke loose after their captain Michael Atherton had been filmed rubbing dirt on the ball during the match. After conceding an 83-run first innings deficit and with their backs against the wall on 70/3 in their second knock, Kevin Pietersen (94) and Paul Collingwood (135) fought back for England to help set the Proteas a stiff winning target of 281 runs in their second innings. Proteas captain Graeme Smith (left) took the bull by the horns and despite the visitors being in a spot of bother at 93/4, had enough support in the form of AB de Villiers (27) and Mark Boucher (45*) to finish with a brilliant, unbeaten 154 to secure an unassailable 2-0 lead and with it South Africa’s first series win in England in 43 years.