ZAK ATTACK PUTS ENGLAND IN BOX SEAT
Crawley’s best yet gives Root’s men advantage in the Bullring
First came the sight of a distraught Jofra Archer being forced out of a third successive test through injury. Later Ben stokes told a bespectacled spectator in no uncertain terms what he thought about him. And in between came another roller- coaster of a batting display from England.
No shortage of drama and combat, then, at the ground they call the Bullring.
At one stage it seemed certain rain would wash out the whole of the first day of a final test England need only to draw to complete a significant away series victory.
But, when the elements cleared to allow two sessions, there was plenty of incident, with England making a superb start but south Africa fighting their way back into contention before bad light brought a premature close.
the only disappointment was that there were so few people at this famous, once intimidating, old Wanderers stadium, at least among locals, to see it all played out.
How well England started after Joe root had won his sixth toss in six tests this winter and, bravely, decided to bat in damp and gloomy conditions on the quickest and bounciest pitch in world cricket.
And how impressive Zak Crawley was in taking the leading role in his fledgling opening partnership with Dom sibley that has suddenly and unexpectedly provided such a solid platform for England.
Crawley has improved with every innings since being thrown into the deep end when rory Burns damaged his ankle playing football on the eve of the second test and this was his most promising display yet.
there was plenty to encourage a south African attack that was without its best bowler, Kagiso rabada, but how they wasted conditions as Crawley and sibley were allowed to settle before steadily increasing their tempo.
Crawley, approaching his 22nd birthday, is at least a year ahead of schedule in playing test cricket but he is learning quickly at international level and here unfurled some classic cover drives in England’s first century opening stand for more than three years.
Only when he was struck on the head by a rare 93mph bouncer from Anrich Nortje was Crawley troubled — he had to carry on in a helmet borrowed from Dom Bess — but by then he had reached his maiden test half-century and had bettered his highest score for the fifth time in his five innings.
sibley, as is his wont, was not as fluent and was wrongly given out caught behind down the leg-side on 10 off debutant Beuran Hendricks by umpire Joel Wilson with the sort of howler the decision review system was brought in to eradicate. then he was reprieved when he was caught in the gully by the returning temba Bavuma on 12 only for Wilson to correctly and refreshingly call Vernon Philander for overstepping.
England were standing proud on 100 without loss at tea but south Africa regrouped at the interval, finally started bowling with something like their traditional hostility and claimed four wickets that keeps them in the hunt. Extra bounce did for sibley and then Crawley, edging one he was trying to leave from Philander, and when Joe Denly and stokes quickly fell England were in danger of handing back the initiative on 157 for four.
stokes was clearly furious with himself when he drove Nortje loosely to slip but he really should have tried to hold his tongue when a spectator said something to him just before he disappeared up the Wanderers famous tunnel.
surely it should take something more than one abusive spectator apparently comparing stokes to Ed sheeran to make the red mist return. He is playing under pressure with his father still seriously ill in a nearby hospital but the last thing England need is more trouble with their vice-captain.
At least root and Ollie Pope steadied the ship even though Pope ended up on the floor after just evading the day’s most hostile delivery from left-armer Hendricks. At 192 for four, England just about have their noses in front.
What drama there was earlier as England went through their warmups. it quickly became clear both
their fastest bowlers were having to prove their fitness where they had looked certain to be paired for the first time in Test cricket.
Archer was so impressive in the two days leading up to this game, bowling with real pace and hostility in the nets, and England were convinced he would be fit to play here after missing the victories at Cape Town and Port Elizabeth.
But the strapping Archer had discarded from his troublesome right elbow on Thursday was now back and he was clearly in discomfort after bowling a few gentle deliveries before then seeking out team doctor Anita Biswas.
When it became clear he was going to miss out, Archer sat disconsolately on a drinks holder covering the tears in his eyes, clearly dismayed at the latest setback in a winter in total contrast to his glorious first summer with England.
This is a worry now and it seems certain Archer is paying the price for the workloads inflicted on him by Root, most particularly the 42 overs he bowled in the first Test against New Zealand at Mount Maunganui before Christmas, 12 more than he had ever delivered in any first-class innings.
Kevin Pietersen is wrong to say England have mishandled Archer in anything other than over-using him — and there certainly haven’t been any ‘briefings’ against him — but clearly they will have to think long and hard about how best to use and protect such a precious asset.
At least Wood was able to play, with Chris Woakes completing the five-man seam attack and replacing Dom Bess, but England will keep their fingers firmly crossed that he really is fully fit when his turn comes to bowl today. They may well need his pace.