ENGLAND COULD END UP WITH EGG ON THEIR FACES
Elgar warns there’s no future in Bazball
DEAN ELGAR has warned that England’s thrilling style under Brendon McCullum could unravel with embarrassing consequences. As South Africa captain, Elgar was interested to watch the 3-0 series win over new Zealand earlier this summer.
And, ahead of their own test series starting at lord’s on Wednesday, he claimed committing to the attacking Bazball philosophy could leave England looking foolish in the long run.
‘the new England style is quite interesting. But i don’t see longevity in brave cricket because i see things evening out over time in test cricket,’ Elgar told Wisden Cricket Monthly. ‘ there was often parity between England and new Zealand and, had new Zealand taken their opportunities and catches, things could have been very different. England would have come away with egg on their faces.’
Elgar’s words were delivered before the South Africans haemorrhaged runs at the astonishing rate of 5.74 per over as England lions smashed a record total of 672 at Canterbury.
After the tourists conceded a 239-run first-innings deficit, Elgar and opening partner Sarel Erwee were dismissed cheaply during a stunning new-ball spell by Ollie robinson as South Africa closed on 59 for three.
that raises the prospect of the Proteas heading into the threematch test series on the back of a humiliating defeat.
Earlier, overnight pair Harry Brook and Ben Duckett struck hundreds as the South Africans wilted in the heat. Brook’s 140 featured six sixes and Duckett then grabbed the baton, taking advantage of being dropped three times to reach a 113-ball hundred.
Captain Sam Billings was going at an even quicker tempo when he fell eight runs short of becoming the third centurion of the innings.
And even though wickets fell regularly to Aiden Markram in an evening session that began with the spinner being crunched for 19 in an over by Will Jacks, England’s second string ploughed beyond a previous high of 624 for eight against South Africa A in 2015 courtesy of Craig Overton, who finished unbeaten on 42 from 21.
Statistics from this match will not make the record books after the Proteas demanded it relinquish its firstclass status to maximise their practice.
no one was more pleased about that than Keshav Maharaj, South Africa’s first- choice spinner ahead of Simon Harmer, who was treated with little respect and returned sorry figures of 22-0-169-1.
the one positive sight for South African eyes came at lunchtime when Kagiso rabada, their premier fast bowler, bowled unimpaired in the middle following an ankle ligament injury. it suggested he is winning his fitness battle ahead of Wednesday’s series opener.
With Billings leading the lions, Jason roy had the honour of captaining Oval invincibles against northern Superchargers up the M2.
However, the change in status could not bring about a change in fortune for a player enduring the biggest slump of his career.
His duck was his second in three innings of the Hundred, but he still celebrated victory thanks to the Curran brothers.
After Sam went for 60, elder sibling tom made light work of the 21 needed from the final 11 deliveries to seal a three-wicket win at the Oval.