Pompous officials and dirt in Mike Atherton’s pocket couldn’t ruin South Africa’s triumphant return to Lord’s
CRICKET: Luke Alfred
ALLEGED ball-tampering by the England captain Mike Atherton late last Saturday afternoon briefly threatened to overshadow South Africa’s first Test match at Lord’s for 29 years.
Several other incidents, such as the old South African flag being printed on tickets, the swift disappearance of the new South African flag from the visitors’ balcony, and Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s failure to be admitted to the main pavilion because he wasn’t wearing a tie, threatened — if only momentarily — to divert attention away from the cricket.
As ever, these diplomatic hiccups confirmed that Lord’s is, like the Catholic Church, an island of anachronisms in a secular sea. But what a powerful island it is.
It is powerful because the Home of Cricket still exerts a profound grip on the imaginations of cricketers from the former colonies.
From Gary Kirsten’s plucky 72 on the first day, however (sharing a third wicket stand of 106 with Kepler Wessels in what was to be the highest partnership of the match), the Proteas demonstrated that they weren’t going to be overawed by what turned ou to be an excessively chummy occasion.
The loss of two late wickets in the final session of day one tilted the game in England’s favour, but it was the best position the home side were able to command in what was to become an abbreviated Test.
Wessels’s first-day 105 was an innings of John Wayne-like grit, and significantly, at least half the ground rose to applaud his milestone; despite the over-zealous bureaucracy scurrying hither and thither demanding neckwear, slapping wrists and removing offending flags from balconies, the average English punter seemed generous and fair-minded to a fault — people enjoyed having the South Africans back.
A wagging tail took the Proteas’ overnight score of 244-6 to 357 all out.
Of the England bowlers only Darren Gough and Angus Fraser impressed, Gough for his zip and boyish enthusiasm; Fraser for his nagging accuracy and Boxer-like steadiness. (Boxer was the cart-horse in George Orwell’s Animal Farm.)
England ended the second day on 141 for 7 and committee members were seen to look deeply into their empty gin and tonics. Alec Stewart was unlucky to be bowled by Allan Donald for 12, at which point my wife in the Edrich stand unfurled her South African flag in preparation for the celebratory wave.
She was cornered by an official and told the flag would be confiscated, whereupon he was booed by the English fans. She had plenty to wave about but the flag stayed out of sight. England were all out for 180 less than an hour into the third morning.
In the presence of Basil D’Oliveira, the man who John Vorster prevented from playing in South Africa way back in 1968, South Africa added to their lead.
Andrew Hudson provided as good an imitation of a Michael Jackson-type shuffle as any I have seen, and Hansie Cronje hit some lovely cover drives in his 32.
Gary Kirsten occupied the crease for just under three hours for his 44 and Wessels was controversially given out caught at short leg by umpire Dickie Bird.
Peter Kirsten and Jonty Rhodes resumed on Sunday morning with the score at 195 for 4, but talk in the press box was of Atherton’s stunt the day before. The tabloid journalists were feverish with speculation. Was Atherton guilty? Was it a stunt he had learnt in some Cambridge common room?
As he led the side on to the field on Sunday morning, (both hands firmly in his pockets) it was widely felt that he was “taking the piss”.
The Proteas were to have the last laugh, though. Wessels declared on 278 for 8 which meant that on a deteriorating pitch not unlike the Bridgetown wicket on which the South Africans batted last against the Windies in 1992, England needed 456 to win.
After being 74 for 4 they were all out for 99. The scribes reached for their Wisdens and awaited the Atherton press conference. Those South Africans present sang For They Are Jolly Good Fellows beneath the main pavilion. For those who like their trivia, England’s second innings total was their lowest at Lord’s this century. I could go on, but that alone gives as good an indication as any of the magnitude of the South African victory.