Late wickets derail England chase

Close England 273 (Prior 76, Morkel 5-75) and 132 for 3 (Trott 24*, Anderson 8*) need another 334 runs to beat South Africa 291 (Kallis 108, Anderson 5-63) and 447 for 7 declared (Smith 180, Amla 95)

For 36.2 overs and 101 runs, history appeared to be within England's grasp, but the loss of three key wickets in the final hour of the fourth day at Newlands left South Africa firm favourites to complete a comfortable series-squaring victory in the third Test. By the end of a riveting session, England were floundering on 132 for 3, with Jonathan Trott and the nightwatchman James Anderson digging in for all they were worth. England's victory target of 466, or 334 in 90 remaining overs with seven wickets still in hand, seemed a long, long way away.

South Africa know a thing or two about miraculous run-chases, having hunted down 414 to beat Australia in Perth last December, and England have proven quite adept at defending fourth-inning targets of late, as demonstrated by their Ashes victories at Lord's and The Oval. But today the roles were reversed, and while Alastair Cook and Andrew Strauss made Graeme Smith sweat for two-and-a-half hours as they compiled their seventh century stand as an opening combination, both men had fallen by the close, along with the massive scalp of Kevin Pietersen, whose Midas touch continued to elude him as he was pinned lbw by Dale Steyn for 6.

In truth, England were up against it from the very start of play, when South Africa resumed on their overnight total of 312 for 2, a lead of 330, with their captain Smith bristling with intent on 162 not out. He eventually holed out for a magnificent 183, but thanks to a solid 46 from Jacques Kallis and cameos from JP Duminy and Mark Boucher, South Africa were able to declare 40 minutes after lunch on 447 for 7.

But in keeping with the pattern of the match, in which run-scoring has appeared to get easier with every passing day, Strauss and Cook completed the first leg of England's survival bid by reaching tea on 38 for 0, and in so doing they negotiated a hostile onslaught from Steyn and Morne Morkel to beat 16 overs-worth of shine off the new ball, and set a base from which they were able to flourish in an unexpectedly serene alliance.

Their opening gambit was not without alarms, however. Strauss, on 1, edged Steyn inches short of Smith at first slip before being pinned on the shoulder by a rapid bouncer that nearly knocked him into his stumps, but he eased the pressure both on himself and his team by driving Steyn handsomely through the covers for three fours in a row. Cook, meanwhile, resumed the watchful approach that had earned him a century and a fifty in his previous two innings, as he left diligently outside off, while picking off his runs with flicks, sweeps and aggressive pulls through the leg-side.

In the end, however, it was the pull that proved to be Cook's downfall. Friedel de Wet is considered to be a doppelganger for Steyn, but there's clearly something subtlely different about his approach, as he skidded down a bouncer in the first over of his second spell, and Cook's anxious flap steepled off a top-edge to give Boucher behind the stumps his 100th dismissal in Tests against England.

Three overs later, and Strauss was gone as well. Paul Harris had been comfortably played by both batsmen, with Strauss particularly willing to advance down the wicket in a sign of confidence and also of his lack of extravagant spin. But on 45, and closing in on his second fifty of a tough series, he attempted to flick an off-stump delivery to leg, but Hashim Amla under the helmet was on hand to intercept a bobbling inside-edge, and hand South Africa a massive boost going into the final phase of the day's play.

And as the shadows began to lengthen, South Africa bagged the big one. Pietersen's series has been among the quietest of his career, but such is his reputation, no opponent ever dares to discount his threat until he has been successfully dislodged. De Wet believed he had bagged him second-ball, when umpire Harper upheld an lbw appeal that was clearly shown on review to have taken an inside-edge, but Pietersen could not make his let-off count. He had added just five more runs in 20 balls before Steyn - recalled for a final burst - slipped in a full, flat, stump-to-stump delivery, and this time Pietersen realised there was no point in seeking a second opinion.

Anderson, on a king pair, came out as a reluctant nightwatchman, and dug out a series of yorkers at the death, while Trott continued to frustrate his former countrymen with his dallying between deliveries, as between them they ate up 3.4 overs before the close. But it'll take a massive effort from all of England's remaining batsmen to maintain their series lead as the finale in Johannesburg looms next week.

The late cluster of wickets was vindication for an atypically aggressive declaration from Smith, whose forthright approach with the bat is not always matched by his instincts in the field. But he gambled on leaving England an attainable final-day target, and held his nerve as Cook and Strauss made the going look improbably easy. Sometime tomorrow, he ought to have squared the series, and in some style.

South Africa and England underline how Test cricket continues to fascinate

Did you notice how many of the “100 Top Sporting Moments” related on these pages last week occurred in Test matches? Were you absorbed from a distance by the uncertain outcomes of the simultaneous Test matches in Centurion and the Waca ground in Perth? Crowds for both games were no more than satisfactory but much of the cricket was spell-binding, proof if it were needed that Test cricket will confound those sages who fear that it is an anachronism in an age of instant gratification.

Such gratification does not come much more quickly, even in Twenty20 cricket, than it did for Chris Gayle last Friday, or for those who watched him launching a series of his trademark straight sixes on his way to a Test hundred scored from 70 balls during the third of three increasingly hard-fought games between Australia and West Indies.

He was out too quickly afterwards and West Indies lost their last six first innings wickets for 27 but they bowled Australia out cheaply and finished only 35 runs short of victory early on the last day. Since their uneven performances against England earlier this year West Indies have found a convincing fast bowler in Kemar Roach, the Barbadian who was quick enough on the Perth pitch to rough up Ricky Ponting, and an opening batsman of equal youth and promise in Adrian Barath.

While conditions at the Waca, as always, encouraged quick bowlers and buccaneering batsmen, those at Centurion rewarded patience, craft and enterprise in equal measure. On the third day in Perth 16 wickets fell for 235 runs; on the same day in Centurion seven fell for 303. Such variety is what we want; plus a proper balance between batsman and bowler; and, not least, administrators ready to keep balanced programmes without overloading the best players.

Pitches and the attitude of the players have always been the keys to interesting cricket. In India this month Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s team recovered from a turgid opening draw in Ahmedabad to win their series against Sri Lanka by virtue of a strong, varied bowling attack and enterprising batting from Virender Sehwag and others. In South Africa, Andrew Strauss hoped for life for his fast bowlers on the first morning but it was Paul Harris and Graeme Swann, the orthodox spinners, who claimed the five-wicket hauls in the two first innings.

Crucial decisions by captains or umpires; changing pitch or weather conditions; sudden shifts of fortune; moments of individual inspiration: these are the things that decide Test matches and give them their fascinating complexity. The two-innings version of cricket will always have more possibilities than a limited single innings; and games played for their country will always mean more to professionals, deep down, than those for cobbled-together franchises, no matter how great the rewards.

One has to recognise, of course, that they think deep into their pockets as well as to their hearts. If players agree, as they all do, that Test cricket is the supreme form of the game — and the shop window that makes them famous and attractive — it also has to bring them commensurate monetary reward. By the same token, if administrators say, as they all do, that Tests are what matter most, they have to market them better.

It can only encourage the sometimes silent majority who follow the Test scene, without necessarily having the time or money to go to watch matches themselves, that India, the most powerful cricket nation, is also now officially the best at the five-day game. That is profound consolation, surely, for their “failure” to win the Twenty20 World Cup in England last June. Do you remember, incidentally, who did win it?

In a restless world that thrives on change and novelty it may well be that the rolling World Test Championship to which the ICC is gradually feeling its way will give impetus and focus to some of those series that at present attract only local interest. A championship every third year, with 50 and 20-over World Cups in between, would have a symmetry that the international game lacks and David Richardson, the ICC general manager, chairs the committee charged given a mandate to produce a feasible system.

Richardson’s latest version of Duncan Fletcher’s “decision referral system” was the main talking point in Centurion and an improvement on last year’s shambles. But further adjustments are necessary. It seemed when it was decided that the Hawk-Eye technology was going to be used that it would mean more justice for bowlers. On the contrary it proved to be just another of the batsman’s many friends. When Graham Onions appealed against A. B. de Villiers on the fourth afternoon as an inswinger thudded into his pads, England’s decision to refer the not out decision looked sure to be rewarded. That it was not was because Hawk-Eye said that the ball was only hitting the leg stump with the side of the ball.

Can’t bowlers even be allowed the nine inches width that the law allows? Test cricket needs wickets if it is to continue to thrive and the convention that the benefit of doubt should go to the batsman was never part of the law. It reflected a time when umpiring was much more prone to error than it is now. Richardson’s mantra is that the system will prevent umpiring howlers, which is desirable. But if technology is to be so widely used the first principle should be to see that justice is done.

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England cling on to draw Centurion thriller

England needed number 11 Graham Onions to see out the final over to secure a nail-biting draw in the first Test against South Africa.

The series opener appeared to be meandering along to a tame finish when the tourists were 172-3 in the final session chasing an unlikely target of 364.

However the careless run out of Kevin Pietersen for 81 gave the Proteas renewed hope before a fine spell from Friedel de Wet left England clinging on.

The debutant paceman crucially ended the stoic resistance of Jonathan Trott (69), who became the first of five wickets to fall for only 13 runs in 11 overs with the second new ball.

Collingwood - once again playing the part of 'Brigadier Block' in making 26 from 99 deliveries - was eventually left with only Durham team-mate Onions to survive the final 19 balls to reach the close on 228-9.

Such a dramatic conclusion had not been on the cards when Trott and Pietersen built a superb fourth-wicket stand of 145.

The pair batted throughout the afternoon session after coming together at 27-3 following the departure of opener Alastair Cook, who was caught at leg slip from the first delivery he faced from spinner Paul Harris.

By then James Anderson (10) had also gone, the nightwatchman gloving a leg side delivery from de Wet within the reach of wicketkeeper Mark Boucher.

But from such a perilous position England's two South African-born batsmen looked so much at ease that it appeared the visitors, rather than their opponents, were the team sensing the possibility of winning at tea.

Any ambitions of a late run chase disappared, though, when Pietersen tapped one straight down and set off like a bullet out of a gun for what could at best be described as a dubious single.

Sadly for him, his batting partner hadn't budged an inch, bringing to an end a fine knock of 81 that had included 11 fours and a lucky escape when he survived what would have been a plum lbw shout thanks to a no ball.

Yet even when Trott, who had played the role of tortoise whilst in alliance with the hare-like Pietersen, was eventually dismissed, a draw still seemed certain.

De Wet had other ideas, though, getting Ian Bell and Matt Prior - who combined for a grand total of 11 runs in the match - caught behind.

Graeme Smith then produced a masterstroke in sticking on spinner Harris to Stuart Broad, who got a feather on a full delivery before Graeme Swann fell lbw to one that stayed low from Morne Morkel.

England used their referrals in an attempt to stay alive but neither were given a repreive, leaving South Africa odds-on for victory and a 1-0 series lead.

Collingwood, reprising his role from Cardiff this summer when he helped save the first Ashes Test, did his best to hog the strike but an ill-judged single in the penultimate over meant Onions was the left to face the music.

When Makhaya Ntini was thrown the ball by Smith, a fairytale finish to his 100th Test appearance seemed to be written in the stars.

Instead Onions - or 'Bunny' as he's known in the England dressing room - held out, punching the air with delight after defending the final delivery of the match.

England had not lost the opening Test of a tour for the first time in five series, while the first draw on South African soil since 2006 means the two nations head to Durban on Boxing Day with honours still even.

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Anderson hopes to be a hero again

James Anderson has a chance to be a backs-to-the-wall batting hero for the second time as England try to save the first Test against South Africa.

Anderson recalls his part in salvaging a draw at the start of last summer's five-Test series against Australia at Cardiff - a precursor to England regaining the Ashes.

The difference this time, against South Africa, is that nightwatchman Anderson's part in salvaging a draw will revolve around what he can achieve in the first hour rather than the last.
England will resume tomorrow on 11 for one, needing to eke out a full three sessions after South Africa set them a notional 364 to win on the back of Hashim Amla's seventh Test century and 50s from AB de Villiers and Mark Boucher.

"It's going to be a big day for us - very similar to Cardiff in the Ashes," said Anderson, acknowledging obvious parallels with that match five months ago. "We pulled through and we saw what happened after that.

"That's the sort of momentum we can get to put us in a good position for the rest of the series, if we get through tomorrow - win or draw."

Anderson does not entirely rule out the prospect of victory but knows it is a highly unlikely outcome on an unpredictable pitch which has already served up some unplayable if occasional low bounce.

"We've certainly been in this position before - so we know exactly what to do," he added.
"You've got to put the wicket out of your mind, don't think about what could happen with the balls that go underground.

"We're going to have to be reasonably positive when we bat and hope we can manage to get through."

The prospect of salvaging a draw was far from England's minds when they had South Africa 46 for four this morning - and still only 106 in front.

But Amla (100) went on to share stands of 121 with De Villiers (64) and 75 with Boucher (63 not out) to snuff out England's fightback.

"We came out reasonably fired up, and at four down we thought 'we're in with a sniff here'," Anderson admitted.

"But they really dug in and played well and saw off the seamers' first couple of spells."
As for his own prospects as a batsman tomorrow, Anderson has confidence on the back of his 29-run share of a first-innings century ninth-wicket stand with Graeme Swann.

"I've found it a pretty easy wicket to bat on," he smiled, before conceding it may not be so simple second time round.

"It's going to be a really difficult first hour for us," he predicted.
"That harder ball does do some unusual things - but nothing of the sort happened with the old ball.

"As we saw today, once it does flatten out - and the ball gets a bit softer - it does become easier to bat on.

"If we can get through that first hour, we obviously have a good chance of batting the whole day."
Amla believes South Africa have put themselves in a winning position.
"We have a really good total on the board and we are confident," he said.
"We hope the wicket will deteriorate a bit more."

When Amla was eventually bowled by Anderson it was with a shooter, and he added: "Although I may have been extremely disappointed to get out, there were a few guys in our changing room who said 'sorry Hash, but it's good news'.

"We've got to hope that the wicket is a bit more up and down so it makes it a little easier for us."

It was far from that in the first hour today - and reflecting on South Africa's state then, Amla spelled out: "There's no joke about it - we were under massive pressure.

"If we had a lost a few more quick wickets the total would have been considerably less - but fortunately AB and I got a partnership going."

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England wilt as Amla turns up the heat

Hashim Amla's seventh Test hundred ensured England's last nine wickets must last the final day to avoid defeat at Centurion.

Amla (100) came in at 20 for two on the penultimate morning of the first Test and soon saw South Africa falter to a perilous 46 for four, with an existing lead of only 62 on an unpredictable pitch.

But he proved immovable for more than four hours, gradually drawing England's sting in a fifth-wicket stand of 121 with AB de Villiers (65) and then allowing Mark Boucher (63no) to up the ante while another 75 were plundered from a tiring attack.

By the time James Anderson (four for 73) bowled him with some low bounce from the second new ball, Amla had kept out 212 deliveries and collected 10 fours out of South Africa's eventual 301 for seven declared.

When England then lost captain Andrew Strauss - caught behind off a good delivery from Morne Morkel - on the way to 11 for one in six overs of batting under cloud cover, they were in a thoroughly unenviable position.

Sweltering conditions persisted almost throughout, but a thundery break-down is expected on Sunday - meaning time could well be the decisive factor in whether Amla's high-class vigil will be commuted to home victory.

It was England who made the best early progress on Saturday on a surface which hinted at some more treachery for the batsmen but subsequently went through one of its prolonged periods of viability.

Amla had all the answers to questions posed by a four-man frontline attack - whose hopes had been justifiably high after three early successes.

Nightwatchman Paul Harris, who has a habit of going across his stumps, was unlucky to be bowled round his legs by Anderson - the ball taking a freak change of direction after clipping the bottom of his thigh pad.

There was much less fortune associated with the big wicket of Graeme Smith, although the home captain did get an inside edge on to his stumps on a very good ball from Graham Onions which curved back into the left-hander to defeat his forward-defence.

Much would depend on the next two partnerships, concerning initially Amla and first-innings centurion Jacques Kallis.

As Anderson and Onions gave way in a double change to Stuart Broad and Graeme Swann, Kallis managed just four in 10 overs of his 12-run stand with Amla before another England plan worked a treat.

Two men were set back on the hook for Kallis, and he did not get enough bat on a Broad short ball to beat Alastair Cook - who took a well-judged catch on the deep-square boundary.

It seemed the tense tussle would surely continue. Instead, though, England - who did nothing wrong - could find no way through Amla and De Villiers until almost teatime.

The former had two close shaves against Swann, with an attempted sweep on 18 which looped up off bat and pad just out of everyone's reach at a short mid-on - and then surviving a reviewed lbw call in the off-spinner's next over.

De Villiers released the tension a little by confidently striking Swann high over long-on for six.

But it was after lunch that the two South Africans began to truly cash in, Amla the first to his 50 but De Villiers operating at a more damaging tempo in his 70-ball half-century.

England were within an inch of the wicket they had begun to desperately need when they used up their final review and Steve Davis' not-out lbw decision stood against Onions' appeal, with De Villiers on 47.

Had the tracker placed impact with leg-stump even marginally lower, with the batsman pinned on the back foot, the tourists would have had their breakthrough.

The return of Broad, and plenty more patience, finally did for De Villiers when he drove on the up and fell to a smart diving catch at cover by Ian Bell.

By then, though, England's realistic aspirations to anything more than an honourable draw had receded significantly.

The compact and wristy Amla continued to profit from percentage batsmanship - and after JP Duminy's review of a front-foot lbw call had gone against South Africa and with Anderson, Boucher proved the perfect foil to keep England toiling.

He brought up a 50 stand with a six over long-on off the wicketless Swann to go with seven fours in his own 58-ball half-century.

When Amla finally went, it was merely a question of whether South Africa would be tempted to put England back in on Saturday night.

Strauss was very soon wishing they had not.

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Cricket-South Africa 418&301-7 declared v England 356, day four

CENTURION, South Africa, Dec 19 (Reuters) - South Africa declared their second innings on 301 for seven, a lead of 363 runs, after tea on the fourth day of the first test against England at Centurion on Saturday.

Scores: South Africa 418 (J. Kallis 120, JP Duminy 56; G. Swann 5-110) and 301-7 dec (H. Amla 100, AB de Villiers 64, M. Boucher 63 not out) v England 356 (P. Collingwood 50, G. Swann 85; P. Harris 5-123)

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SA win would end India's No. 1 stint

India's stay at the top of ICC Test rankings might end as early as next month if South Africa beat England 2-0 or better.

The Proteas, who lost their coveted position to India on December 6 after Mahendra Singh Dhoni and his men beat Sri Lanka 2-0 in the three-match Test series, will need to beat England by 2-0 or better in their four-match home series starting on Wednesday at Centurion to reclaim the top spot.
A 2-0 or 3-1 series win will put South Africa on par with India but ahead of Dhoni's side when the ratings are calculated beyond the decimal point while a 4-0 win will take Graeme Smith's side to 127 ratings points.

At present, India top the table with 124 rating points, followed by South Africa (122).

England have a chance to leapfrog South Africa into fourth position but for that to happen, Andrew Strauss' side will need to win all its matches in the series.

A 4-0 series win will put England alongside South Africa on 113 ratings points but ahead of the Proteas when the ratings are calculated beyond the decimal point.

While a convincing 2-0 or 3-1 series win will strengthen England's hold on fifth position, it will affect South Africa's ranking and the hosts would drop to 116 ratings points and possibly in third position, depending on how the Perth Test between Australia and the West Indies pans out.

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South Africa's bowlers plan to target the out-of form Kevin Pietersen

Kevin Pietersen will come under pressure on his return to Test cricket tomorrow as South Africa are planning to target England's premier batsman to undermine his confidence. Graeme Smith, the South Africa captain, says he aims to prolong the frustrations of the out-of-form Pietersen following his five-month lay-off following surgery on an achilles tendon.

"We've worked on a few interesting game-plans to him and hopefully we can put them into place," Smith said. "Since injury he is searching for a bit of confidence and we want to keep him under the pressure we have done through the one-day series and tour so far.

"With regards to off-the-field stuff, that is out of our control and we're going to focus on playing England man for man and hopefully be better than them. Kevin is carrying the burden for comments that he has made over a period of time, so we've just got to live with those and get on and hopefully cricket will be the winner."

England's captain, Andrew Strauss, is confident that his Pietersen can play his first meaningful innings of the tour. "I think KP found himself in quite an unfamiliar situation at the start of this tour. He had been playing cricket almost continuously for God knows how long and it's probably the first time in his England career he has had time away and had to find his feet again, so that's taken some adjusting to and you have to build your way up through the gears.

"I am very happy with the way he has been going about things; he has been training exceptionally hard. I think he has looked better and better and KP being the type of person he is, he will want to have a massive impact on the series."

Strauss has challenged his players to take the initiative with aggressive cricket in the opening session. "A Test series here is always going to be like that," he said. "Both teams have had 10 days twiddling their thumbs waiting for this day and there are going to be 22 players pretty keen to make their mark on the series.

"As is often the case, the first day, the first session, can have a big impact on the way the series goes. You won't win it in that session but you can grab the momentum."

England are looking for a repeat of their series win here five years ago – though they lost at home to South Africa last year – and Strauss added: "I am very keen for players to stand up and be counted in pressure situations and if you are not willing to do that, you are not going to survive in Test cricket very long."

South Africa have not played a Test for nine months and must beat England 2-0 or better to regain the No1 status from India. England are also under-prepared, having not played a first-class match since they arrived six weeks ago. But Strauss claimed that his side are ready. "I think you are prepared if you are mentally in the right place," he said. "We have had quite a big gap since the one-dayers and had enough time to prepare mentally. We haven't had a four-day game in terms of getting a complete replica of Test [cricket] but I am comfortable where we are; the feeling in the camp is pretty boisterous and happy and excited about what is to come. We are aware we need to have our games [switched] on tomorrow morning. You can't afford to ease into any Test cricket."

Strauss admitted that he could not read the pitch on the eve of the match. "I am still not 100% sure how that wicket will play. We turned up for one of the Champions Trophy matches here and it did look very good but ended up playing pretty well. At this stage [it] looks like quite a lot of green grass on it and we have all three options left open to us, but won't be naming the side until the morning."

England have a full squad to pick from, though the spinner Graeme Swann is still carrying a niggling side injury and has James Tredwell standing by.

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Andrew Strauss ignores rain as England stand on brink of historic win

Only England cricketers with a vivid imagination could possibly believe there is any chance of today's one-day international against South Africa taking place, given the Durban weather. Those who visited the sullen darkness of the Kingsmead ground yesterday and saw covers the size of small fields covering the square, and much else besides, with little lakes in the outfield, were reminded of the flooding that so often afflicts New Road, Worcester.

The England captain, Andrew Strauss, however, decided to suspend disbelief. "I'm fully expecting to play a game of cricket," he said. "For us to think about the weather intervening would be highly disruptive. We would all prefer to grab victory by playing well again."

England lead this ODI series 2-1 – the first match having been lost to the weather – and if there is no play today they will become only the second team after Australia to win a one-day series in this country.

Graeme Smith, the South Africa captain, had a forlornness about him. "There has been a huge amount of rain around the past two or three weeks, so the groundstaff have got their work cut out," he said. The weather's not great and no one expects to play, but as a team we have to be prepared. If we get on the field we have a chance of levelling the series and that's our focus."

But he seemed more focused on a series lost. "I'm pretty philosophical about it," he said, with the tone of a man who might never play again. "We haven't really performed up to standard in at least two of those games. So we've only got ourselves to blame."

Either way, Strauss and his team are on the brink of real achievement here. To beat one of the world's best one-day sides without Andrew Flintoff, and with only a minimum contribution from Kevin Pietersen, the two dominant personalties when they beat South Africa in England last year, is a reflection of a new sense of purpose around the side.

Strauss picked out last summer's 6-1 ODI defeat by Australia as the catalyst for change. "Some time you need to go through the tough times to see the light and realise where you've been going wrong," he said.

"There was a real realisation in that Australia series that we were not as good as we wanted to be and if we wanted to be better we had to do things differently. That defeat gave us the impetus to mix things up. It forced myself and Andy [Flower, the team director] and the coaching staff to ask how we could do things differently."

England should have been aware of their one-day shortcomings before this. They were beaten 5-0 in India last winter, after all. And, in general, they have been duffers since they reached the World Cup final for the third and last time in 1992.

"We've been quite good at divorcing ourselves from one-day misery in the past," Strauss said. "Because we've had to. But if we could win this one-day series that would give us a nice lift."

Strauss was anxious to talk about the new, more positive "brand" of cricket England were playing. "When you go out and express yourself you sometimes surprise yourself that some of these shots you play are not quite as risky as you thought."

He was talking about himself, as much as anyone else, for a short time ago he was not considered good enough for this cricket. He averaged just 19.71 in 14 matches in 2007 and did not play at all last year. This year he has averaged 32.35. But Smith, as if recalling a lost line from the mind games that were a feature of the early stages of this tour, reminded everyone that Strauss had yet to score an ODI fifty against South Africa (his best in 12 matches is 46).

England will pick from a fully fit squad. Jimmy Anderson, the message went, had put his knee injury – which had sounded like a particularly nasty dislocation – behind him.

England (from): Strauss (capt), Trott, Pietersen, Morgan, Collingwood, Prior (wkt), Wright, Bresnan, Broad, Swann, Anderson, Onions.

South Africa (from): Smith (capt), Amla, De Villiers, Duminy, Petersen, Boucher (wkt), McLaren, Botha, Parnell, M Morkel, Langeveldt, A Morkel.

Umpires: R Tucker (Aus), M Erasmus (SA).

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Blistering de Villiers flays England

South Africa 354 for 6 (de Viliiers 121, Amla 86, Smith 54, Petersen 51) v England

AB de Villiers went a long way towards correcting his poor one-day record against England with a blistering 85-ball 121 as South Africa marched to a massive 354 for 6 at Newlands, their highest total against the tourists and equal-highest at the venue. In a wonderful display of clean and controlled striking de Villiers made the most of his recent promotion to No. 3, building on the 107-run opening provided by Graeme Smith and Hashim Amla.

At no stage did de Villiers take his foot off the gas, but his innings really exploded into life when South Africa took their batting Powerplay in the 43rd over. He greeted Stuart Broad with an audacious ramp-turned-scoop over the keeper's head then swept him fiercely through midwicket in an over that cost 15. His breathtaking hundred - the fourth of his career - came in the next over off 75 balls with another boundary pummelled through midwicket and erased an anomaly in his career where his previous best against England was 42.

de Villiers' effort was as pure as you could wish to see. When he invented he did so with the basis of a superb technique that meant he was always in the ideal position. When past his hundred he shimmied around his crease against Broad, but was still in the perfect position to flay him through the covers, then went down on one knee to sweep him over fine leg. When he finally skied to cover, a number of England players acknowledged the innings as he left the field.

History shows that chasing under lights on this ground is notoriously difficult, so arguably the most important part of the day was when Smith won the toss and South Africa didn't miss out. From early on it felt a given that they would reach a huge total, but de Villiers' onslaught - in which 57 came from the batting Powerplay - pushed the eventual mark from difficult to daunting.

On a picture-perfect day with a clear blue sky it soon became obvious there was little on offer for the pace bowlers. Broad, in his first serious bowl since the opening match of the tour, during which he landed awkwardly on his shoulder, bowled on both sides of the wicket and often too short. Amla pounced on the early gifts to kick-start his innings, although he did have one uncomfortable moment when a short ball from Broad struck his elbow and left him needing a couple of minutes of treatment.

Having assessed the conditions, and the lack of help for the quicks, Andrew Strauss opted not to use the bowling Powerplay straight away and introduced Graeme Swann alongside Paul Collingwood to take pace off the ball. The plan worked well as overs 11 to 15 didn't produce a boundary with Swann landing the ball well after his lay-off. Smith broke the shackles with a straight drive off Collingwood and brought up a run-a-ball fifty in the next over.

With the scoring-rate under some modicum of control Strauss called the Powerplay after the drinks break in the 18th over. Wright replaced Swann and provided the breakthrough when Smith gave himself room to carve through the off side but only succeeded in dragging into his stumps. The South African captain was furious, well aware a huge score was in the offing, but he had at least set a solid platform for his team.

Amla wouldn't be playing if Jacques Kallis hadn't been ruled out with his rib fracture but he continued to make full use of his opportunities in the top order. His 59-ball half-century followed the 57 he made at Centurion and he upped his tempo with consecutive boundaries to fine leg off Wright.

de Villiers backed up the opening stand with a positive start as he took advantage of the fielding restrictions with a flick over midwicket and two rasping cut shots. Anderson was recalled to the attack but his first over back went for 12 as South Africa once again began moving through the gears. Amla was content to play the anchor role as de Villiers rushed to a 39-ball half century and had a hundred for the taking when he bottom-edged a pull to Matt Prior.

Momentarily England held the run-rate in check when Wright had JP Duminy taken at deep square-leg, but South Africa were just biding their time. De Villiers and Alviro Petersen consolidated for a few overs until the mayhem started. The fourth-wicket stand was 95 in 10 overs then Mark Boucher ensured the innings ended with a flourish as the final 10 overs brought 109 runs.

Extraordinarily, given the total, Boucher launched the first six of the innings in the 48th over with a straight drive off Wright. Petersen reached an almost-ignored fifty from 39 balls - matching de Villiers' rate - during the final over as South Africa moved past 350. South Africa have won 24 out of 27 ODIs on this ground and it will take a monumental chase to prevent them adding to that record.

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Herschelle Gibbs to replace injured Jacques Kallis

South African batsman Herschelle Gibbs has been confirmed as Jacques Kallis' replacement for the remainder of the ODI series against England. Kallis fractured his rib during last month's Champions Twenty20 League in India and is also doubtful for the opening Test in Centurion on December 16. Kallis played the second Twenty20 international in Centurion and scored 7, but did not bowl.

Gibbs will join the squad in Cape Town on Wednesday, ahead of the third ODI which starts two days later. He last played for South Africa during the Champions Trophy in September but failed to make the squad for the limited-overs games against Zimbabwe and England. He also had a forgettable outing in the Champions League in India, scoring just 43 runs in four games for the Cape Cobras. He scored 42 of those in the semi-final against Trinidad and Tobago, but prior to that he had recorded two first-ball ducks.

However, he was in good form for the Cobras in the MTN 40-over competition at home, scoring 163 runs in four games. He was given a lifeline by the selectors when he was picked for the A squad to play England in Potchefstroom last week, where he scored 24. With Kallis on the sidelines, Gibbs will have a second chance at regaining his spot.

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Rib injury rules out Kallis

South Africa all-rounder Jacques Kallis is to miss the entire one-day international series against England because of a fractured rib.

It is thought Kallis suffered the injury during the Champions League in India last month, but it was only after a scan this morning that the true extent of the problem was uncovered.

South Africa intend to call up an as yet unnamed replacement batsman, having already privately accepted Kallis was not likely to be regularly bowling his full 10-over entitlement in a five-match series set to get under way at Centurion on Sunday - following Friday's washout at The Wanderers.

"It is with deep regret that we have to announce Jacques Kallis is out of the one-day series," said coach Mickey Arthur."He just wasn't getting better from that injury.
"We had him re-scanned this morning and found there is a fracture in the cartilage of the rib - which clearly affects his performances for the next four weeks.
"Obviously, it's very disappointing."

South Africa hope key player Kallis will be fit again in time for the start of the Test series against England next month - although Arthur admitted the first match at Centurion may be a "grey area".

In the more immediate future, Hashim Amla will replace Kallis at the top of the order - alongside captain Graeme Smith.

"We have groomed Hashim Amla to open the batting in one-day cricket - and he will be a more than adequate replacement," Arthur predicted.

Should the need arise, South Africa will pick Kallis as a batsman only for the Test series - but the nature of his injury means that would be an unwise policy in the ODIs too.

"The priority for us is the Test matches, and we need to get him fit and ready for them," the coach explained.

"The balance he brings to our Test side is huge, so he wasn't going to do a hell of a lot of bowling in the one-dayers anyway.

"We would play Jacques as a batter only in Tests if need be. He is among the top five batters in world cricket, so we could certainly do that.

"We wouldn't push him to bowl in the first Test if we thought it would impede in matches two, three and four.

"The injury is affecting his batting at the moment - and what he needs now is four weeks off to get mended.

"If he batted then the movements of batting and running between the wickets and stretching would all affect his recovery - so that is why we're pulling him out of this series."

South Africa appear optimistic if not entirely confident of Kallis' readiness for the start of the Test series.

"He will have an injection to speed the recovery up, but the first Test might be a grey area," said Arthur.

"For the second onwards, there are no issues."

Arthur is equivocal about whether Kallis' absence may be a boost for opponents themselves beset by a collection of 'niggling' injuries.

"England may be lifted, but I don't think any side takes glee in seeing the opposition's best players getting injured," he said.

"I know we don't get any at seeing England's growing injury list.

"You want to be testing yourself against the best players all the time - and you want the best players out on the field."

As for the longer-term future of 34-year-old Kallis, a world-class player with much mileage on the clock after 131 Test and 295 ODI caps, South Africa's management appear well aware of the toll taken by such a workload.

"We need to have a look at Jacques' scheduling and we need to manage him through now," added Arthur.

"We are going to have to manage his workload. We were trying to minimise the burden on him going into the one-dayers to make sure he was bowling fit for the Test series."

At least the hosts know now exactly what has been troubling one of their main men.

"It's a certain injury now, and we've pinpointed it," Arthur reported.

"The other day, he was yelping around in training and we were saying 'come on Jacques - stop being a wuss' and 'man up!' But the poor guy had a fractured rib."

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ANDREW STRAUSS IS READY FOR SOUTH AFRICAN CRICKET TEAM

THE England cricket team, led by Andrew Strauss, are ready to go toe to toe with the South Africans today as the one-day series takes off.

Skipper Andrew Strauss knows the home side will not hold back, particularly after five, straight 50-over defeats against England.

And the fact the last of those was the infamous Champions Trophy clash – when England beat South Africa on home soil after Strauss refused opposing skipper Graeme Smith a runner for cramp – adds even more edge than usual.

Smith could barely contain his anger towards Strauss after the game in September, saying: “The world is round and that will come back on him.”

However, the England captain has heard it all before and expects another ­confrontational series with their hosts, starting today in Johannesburg.

Strauss said: “We haven’t had much to do with them.

“South Africa-England games are always competitive, the cricket is always aggressive and in your face. This series is going to be no different. We know that and we’re prepared for it as well.”

The hosts have been vociferous in the build-up, with coach Mickey Arthur having plenty to say.

But that does not concern Strauss, who even took the opportunity to repeat Smith’s vague warning.
He said: “There has been quite a lot said but not much by me.


“I think, when you come to South Africa, you expect this. We’ve seen this before, so none of it particularly surprises me.

“All I would say is we’ve tried not to come out with big comments about the opposition – because, as we all know, the world is round and these things can come back to haunt you at some stage. I think we’re all excited to get out there on the pitch and let the bats do the talking.”

England’s continuing injury problems saw them call up Kent’s James Tredwell ­yesterday because of Graeme Swann’s side problem.

And Test squad member Liam Plunkett has had to take an early flight as cover for seamer Stuart Broad, who will not be considered for the first couple of matches.

However, Alastair Cook, Paul Collingwood and James Anderson all have a chance of playing today after recovering from a series of minor ailments.

Tredwell’s last-minute dash raises the possibility he may be preferred to Adil Rashid, who went for 25 in his only over in the second Twenty20 game on Sunday. Strauss did not give anything away but said 27-year-old Tredwell was in with a chance of playing.

“It’s definitely an option we want to have,” added Strauss.

“They’ve got quite a few left-handers and that ability to spin the ball away from them is an important one.

“But, at the same time, Adil Rashid is improving and I think the more exposure he gets to international cricket, the better he’ll get.

“I wouldn’t write him off [for today’s match] by any means.

“But, clearly, it is important we have both options.”

Sri Lanka’s Mahela Jayawardene and Prasanna Jayawardene broke a 72-year-old world record in the first Test against India at Ahmedabad.

Sri Lanka declared their first innings at 760-7 after a marathon 351-run sixth-wicket stand between the Jayawardenes.

Australia’s Don Bradman and Jack Fingleton held the previous record of 346 runs, which was set in 1937 against England in Melbourne.

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Bosman and Smith lead rout of England

South Africa 241 for 6 (Bosman 94, Smith 88) beat England 157 for 8 (Trott 51) by 84 runs

Loots Bosman fell one blow short of recording only the second century in Twenty20 internationals, and Graeme Smith made a statement of his own by hammering 88 from 44 balls, as South Africa responded to their defeat in Friday's first T20I at the Wanderers by squaring the series with one of the most powerful displays of batting ever witnessed at international level.

In total the South Africans smacked 19 fours and a world-record 17 sixes to rattle along to a massive total of 241 for 6 - second only to Sri Lanka's 260 against the minnows of Kenya two years ago. Unsurprisingly it was all too much for England's hit-and-miss cricketers, whose quest for consistency continues unabated. Not even the unscheduled return of Kevin Pietersen could rescue them from humiliation, although he did at least chip in with two of their six sixes in reply, before succumbing to his first attempt at a switch hit.

That other former South African, Jonathan Trott, also hung around for an 40-ball 51, but - in a measure of the extent to which England were outclassed - England's 20-over total of 157 for 8 was 13 runs fewer than Smith and Bosman managed between them during a sensational 13-over opening stand.

It all added up to a cruel introduction to the captaincy for Alastair Cook - who took charge of the side for the first time following the withdrawal of Paul Collingwood before the toss. His stint got off to a misleadingly competent start when James Anderson conceded just two runs from his first over, and at 14 for 0 after three, England appeared to be exerting a measure of control.

But it was not to last. Sajid Mahmood's first over was a horror show - he conceded 21 runs, including three fours from his first three balls, and a free-hit for six as Bosman belted his final ball of the over through midwicket. To compound the indignity, Mahmood had also fired a perfect yorker through Smith's defences off another free-hit, as well as having Bosman caught at mid-off from his second no-ball of the over.

It was the tonic that South Africa's batsmen needed, and there was no holding back from that moment onwards. With Cook shuffling his bowlers and rearranging his field after every other delivery, Tim Bresnan was clubbed for 16 runs as he returned after a change of ends, while Luke Wright, unsurprisingly replacing the hapless Mahmood, was drilled for two further sixes from his first three balls.

On 39, Smith offered his first genuine chance, when he mistimed a Wright slower-ball and fizzed the ball back past the bowler's ears, as 55 runs were clobbered from the last three overs of the Powerplay. Mahmood returned to the attack with some initial success, with only three runs coming from the first four deliveries of his second over, but Bosman further shredded his figures with a biffed four through mid-on and the biggest of his four sixes to date, an effortless pick-up over midwicket.

At 82 for 0 after seven overs, it was an inauspicious moment for Adil Rashid to join the attack, and sure enough, the gamble of taking the pace off the ball backfired spectacularly. Rashid's first over was smeared for 25, including a brace of sixes for each of the batsmen - Smith biffed his first two balls over midwicket to hurtle to a 25-ball half-century, and after a stumping appeal and a single, Bosman sent his last two in a similar direction.

Bosman's own fifty was also brought up from 25 balls, with a push for two to long-on off Wright, who was by some distance the pick of England's middle-over bowlers. But at the opposite end, the carnage continued unabated. Bresnan returned for his third over, but Smith hammered his first two balls for six, and when Mahmood replaced him at the Grandstand End, he served up a juicy full-toss that Smith dispatched with aplomb onto the grassy banks at midwicket.

Such was England's predicament that Pietersen, who wasn't even meant to be beginning his England comeback until Tuesday's warm-up, was whistled up to bowl the 13th over. But Bosman belted him into the crowd at midwicket for his seventh - and South Africa's 13th - six of the innings, before finding the gap at backward square leg one ball later.

Eventually, it was Cook's second speculative bowling change that made the long-awaited breakthrough, as he threw the ball to Joe Denly for his first over in international cricket, and Smith responded by slapping his very first delivery to Mahmood at long-on. One over, and two further sixes later, Bresnan provided Pietersen with something to smile about, as he stretched superbly on the long-off boundary to intercept another lusty blow, this time from Albie Morkel.

England did manage to finish the innings with some dignity restored, as five wickets fell in five consecutive overs. JP Duminy aimed a hoick over midwicket off Anderson, but steepled a leading edge to Wright at point, before Bosman's masterclass came to a cruel end. On 94 from just 44 balls, and sizing up a tenth six to become only the second batsman after Chris Gayle to score a Twenty20 international hundred, he launched into a Wright full-toss, but found Anderson hurtling in at deep midwicket to claim a magnificent tumbling catch.

Jacques Kallis, back in the side after missing Friday's first game, then gave Mahmood some light relief as he swished at a slower ball and lost his off stump. But England, who excelled themselves in posting their highest Twenty20 total two days ago at the Wanderers, were left needing the highest score ever made in a 20-over fixture between two senior nations.

It never looked like happening. After first-ball ducks in each of his previous Twenty20s, Denly this time survived until the fourth over before inside-edging Yusuf Abdulla onto his off stump. By that stage, however, England were already drifting out of contention, and in fact they didn't score their first six until the ninth over, when Trott dropped to one knee to hoist Roelof van der Merwe over midwicket.

Cook chivvied as best he could, given that his style of batting is not exactly renowned for clearing the ropes, but when he clipped Morkel to midwicket for 26 from 21 balls, Pietersen emerged to a predictable chorus of boos. Mocking laughter might have been more appropriate, however, seeing as England were 65 for 2 after 9.3 overs, with an asking rate that was already approaching three runs a ball.

England never threatened to turn the tide of the match. Trott and Pietersen's 52-run stand was as good as it got, and though Eoin Morgan picked up where he had left off at the Wanderers by reverse-flicking his first ball for four, Dale Steyn blasted through his defences for 10, before the tail dribbled away in a non-descript fashion.

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England ride on Morgan masterclass

England 202 for 6 (Morgan 85*, Collingwood 57) beat South Africa 127 for 3 (Bosman 58) by one run (D/L method)

England's new fearless batting approach, led by an audacious 45-ball 85 from Eoin Morgan, got their international winter off to a winning start, but it required an accurate over from James Anderson to secure England the opening Twenty20 international. After posting 202 for 6, their highest score in Twenty20s, England turned the D/L equation into their favour after South Africa had been in the winning position an over before and when a thunderstorm arrived at the Wanderers the home side needed to be 129 after 13 overs, but Anderson had conceded just six from his third over to put England ahead of the rate.

Although England will happily take the result it was an unfulfilling end to a match packed with powerful hitting as Morgan led the way, with England's highest individual Twenty20 score, adding 98 in nine overs with Paul Collingwood who clubbed 57 off 32 deliveries in a full-blooded batting performance. They certainly lived up to the promise of not taking a backward step after coming out of their shells during the Champions Trophy.

South Africa responded through Loots Bosman as he cracked 58 off 31 balls, adding 97 for the first wicket with Graeme Smith in 8.3 overs, before England claimed crucial wickets. Collingwood deserves credit for making the right call in recalling Anderson to the attack, after South Africa moved ahead of the D/L target when Albie Morkel swung Graeme Swann for six.

Alastair Cook pulled off a vital diving save at backward point to prevent a certain boundary from Anderson's second ball back and after conceding a wide he responded by going for two off the next three balls. When AB de Villiers could only club a single to midwicket England were ahead and the heavens opened.

When Bosman and Smith were together South Africa were making rapid progress towards the target in a similar manner to how they chased down 206 to beat West Indies here during the opening match of the 2007 World Twenty20. England's quicks tried to mix up their deliveries but overdid the variety; Tim Bresnan's second over went for 14 and Sajid Mahmood's second cost 19 as South Africa had 67 on the board after six overs. Bosman's 26-ball fifty was the second fastest for South Africa, but when Smith carved to deep cover England started to claw back. Collingwood held a steepler to end Bosman's charge and Mahmood trapped JP Duminy lbw for 6.

Following the bowler-friendly conditions of the Champions Trophy, this was the Wanderers back in more familiar form as boundaries flowed across and over the boundary with regularity. Even though the game lost seven overs, 17 sixes were hit which is enough to make the bowlers question their vocation.

The first-ball dismissal of Joe Denly (his second in two Twenty20 internationals) meant an early arrival to the middle for Jonathan Trott for the most hyped homecoming since Kevin Pietersen. After a predictable first-ball bouncer he made England's first statement of the tour with four consecutive boundaries off Dale Steyn's first over.

Collingwood made his intent clear when he launched Morkel for a leg-side six and despite the two early wickets England's fifty was up inside the six-over Powerplay. The team was certainly living up to the new positive approach instilled by Andy Flower and the absent Andrew Strauss. It wasn't dull.

Trott's contribution was ended when he chanced a single to backward point and was beaten by a sharp return even though the bowler, Roelof van der Merwe, almost messed up his attempt at breaking the stumps. However, it brought in another in-form batsman.

Morgan has provided the middle-order with the power for so long lacking in England's limited-overs side and this display was another demonstration of his awesome striking ability. One six over the leg-side went out of the ground, off Steyn no less, leaving gasps of amazement from those watching. Yes, the Wanderers is at altitude. Yes, the pitch had the pace and bounce batsmen enjoy. But it was a monumental blow nonetheless.

He followed up by dispatching the struggling Morkel for 14 off three balls before Collingwood made it 21 from the 14th over with a thumping six over long on. Smith made regular bowling changes, moved his field around all over the place, but was powerless to stop the onslaught.

Both Collingwood (27 balls) and Morgan (29 balls) reached their half-centuries in the 15th over and by the time Collingwood carved to deep cover the pair had added 98 in 9.1 overs. Briefly South Africa slowed the charge with three wickets in 15 balls, but Morgan kept his head to regain the momentum and took 29 off his last seven balls with his full array of drives, deflections and mighty blows. In terms of whetting the appetite for the tour ahead, this certainly wasn't a bad start.

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