20th century joy as Cook blunts Steyn
FIRST blood to England and, in particular, first blood to the extraordinary Alastair Cook, who turned the opening day of this heavyweight clash into another perfect demonstration of his relentless ability to accumulate big, matchdefining hundreds that grind down wilting opponents.
This was not the bruising, aggressive opening skirmish in this battle for world Test supremacy that everyone expected, more a cerebral, absorbing battle, with England building a formidable platform on a slow, dry Kia Oval pitch from which they will hope to move into a commanding position today.
We had expected South Africa, and in particular the world’s No 1 bowler Dale Steyn, to come out with all guns blazing, breathing fire from their nostrils and throwing everything they could at Andrew Strauss’s side to prove that they and not England should be ranked as the genuine best Test team. Not a bit of it.
Instead South Africa were strangely subdued and all too quick to retreat into their shells when faced with a surface that was hardly conducive to hostility and with batsmen in Cook and Jonathan Trott who were only too happy to chug along all day at around three runs an over.
Steyn was the biggest disappointment. It may have been the first day of this seismic Investec series, but with only three matches scheduled, the need for South Africa to hit the ground running was paramount. Instead their spearhead almost limped into action and allowed England to dictate the pace of play and the terms of engagement.
The struggles of Steyn, who ended wicketless from 21 mediocre overs, epitomised South Africa’s plight. The grapevine had been buzzing with speculation on Wednesday night that the fastest bowler in the world was struggling with a foot injury and might even miss this first Test. The rumours were emphatically denied by South Africa and sure enough here Steyn was, taking his expected place in their stellar bowling line-up.
Yet the first clue that all might not be right came when he was overlooked for the new ball and that little mystery was followed by him having to leave the field to have strapping wrapped around his right ankle to go with the bandaging on his right elbow. The usual wear and tear from fast bowling or something more worrying?
Steyn’s absence, at the start of an innings England were delighted to begin after winning an important toss, could be explained on tactical grounds and Morne Morkel duly repaid the faith Graeme Smith showed in him by dismissing Strauss for the seventh time in Test cricket with a successfully reviewed lbw from the fourth ball of the match.
Yet when Steyn, who has a decidedly better record against right-handers, was finally thrown the ball for the 11th over he looked at best rusty and under- cooked and at worst unfit. He will need to hit back strongly today for his own and his side’s peace of mind.
Steyn was not the only disappointment. Vernon Philander had arrived after an incredible start to his Test career, reaching 50 wickets faster, in terms of deliveries, than anyone in history. But given the new ball, as he invariably is now, Philander looked little more than a typical English-type seamer, nipping the ball around at just under 80mph. He too finished wicketless.
For all the talk of the battle of the two pace attacks, this series may well be decided by spin, hence England’s preference for a dry pitch here, and their confidence that Graeme Swann will outbowl Imran Tahir seems well placed after an opening day in which the legspinner looked out of his depth and far from the bowler who has been so threatening in county cricket.
All of which should take nothing away from Cook. The man who has just led England to an emphatic one-day success against Australia was back in the ranks and sorely needed by his country after the early demise of the man he will one day replace at the helm of the Test team, too.
Cook made up for the departure of Strauss by leading a calm, calculated assault on the South Africa bowling in tandem with Trott, so determined to prove his commitment to his adopted country over his native one that he insisted in a recent interview that he becomes homesick for Birmingham whenever he is in Cape Town.
How Smith must have been pining for the Cape by the time Trott was finally dismissed after a stand of 170 with Cook. The South Africa captain, in his 100th Test, has enjoyed better days and quickly became exasperated with Trott’s crease-scratching ritual ahead of every ball, waving his arms at umpire Steve Davis to implore him to hurry the batsman up.
Mind you, Morkel was indulging in his own ritual, which involves walking round in a little circle before commencing his run-up, and when he finally lured Trott into a loose drive it was difficult to know who had come out on top in what seemed like a battle of obsessive compulsive disorders.
Kevin Pietersen has dominated the headlines all week and the stage looked set for him to prove yet another point but he seemed nervous and, after getting somewhat into his stride, he gave it away by top- edging an attempted pull off Jacques Kallis down the leg side just ahead of the second new ball.
It should not matter. Cook, who had pulled Steyn into the crowd to record only his sixth Test six and his first in England, marched remorselessly on, showing more emotion than usual when he reached 100. For now he has put England into the driving seat at 267 for three but it will count for little unless they go on to score at least 500 today. Then it will be over to Swann. paul.newman@dailymail.co.uk