Neil Manthorp in Cambridge Cricket
The arrangement of storms and lulls, peaks and troughs has been clever so far on tour, by and large. Cambridge is a lovely city and the combined universities provide talented but not fierce opposition. Most importantly, Cambridge provides the perfect opportunity to allow the ripples and tremors from the Lords to win enough time to work their way out of the body.
The touring party are certainly in festival spirits after their rousing win at Lords.
Very special. We came to Lords four years ago and won, says Gary Kirsten. To do it twice in a row was an unbelievable moment. The older guys all sat in the dressing room for a couple of hours just soaking up the atmosphere, appreciating it.
Kepler [Wessels] said in 1994 enjoy this, remember it, because you wont beat England in four days at Lords again. And of course we believed him!
The excitement of the win has taken a few days to settle and the South Africans are aware there are still three Tests to go. You have to appreciate the highs in this game because there are enough lows to cope with. I know I was part of the reason we were 46-4!
Kirsten is quite correct when he says it was a strange test. At 46-4 on the first day we were naturally worried. But Jonty [Rhodes] continued his amazing run of form to lead us to a very competitive total and then Allan [Donald] did what hes done for years now rose to the occasion, put the pressure on and put us in charge with a brilliant fivefer.
Jacques Kallis provided the inspiration in the second innings, when South Africa were struggling, motivated by the fact that he was playing on home turf after his season with Middlesex.
Both sides were probably aware that we were becoming a little over-reliant on Allan Donald and Shaun Pollock to take our wickets. But Jacques bowled like a strike bowler, Zulu [Klusener] ended a very gutsy innings by Nasser Hussain (105) and Gogga [Paul Adams] took three wickets. Crucially, England now know that there is no rest for them when Al and Shaun are resting. We must push hard to win one, or both, of the next two, because weve got the momentum and England are on the back foot, Kirsten concluded.
Donald went further: We should start thinking about something like 3-0 in the series. I really believe we can do that. Hansie [Cronje] said so after the match. We saw how vulnerable they can be when were bowling to our potential.
The other thing in our favour is that Im sure England will put the word out for flatter wickets with less pace. That means harder work for the bowlers, but it also means that we can score big runs and put them under pressure. We have the balance and the ability to take 20 wickets and bowl them out twice. I just hope we dont make them follow-on too often, that really is bloody hard work!
Despite his remarkable 5-32 that forced England to follow-on (remember he also took 5-74 four years ago), Donald was adamant that Rhodes should take the credit for victory.
I cant really express my feelings for Jonty. So many people have written him off, said that hes just a one-day player, but hes suddenly playing like a test genius. His name is on the honours board in the Lords pavilion and he can always know that he won a test against England at their headquarters. That is a great achievement.
Donald wasnt the only member of the side moved by Rhodess success. But while his team mates celebrated on his behalf, the man-of-the-match was doing his usual self- effacement.
Jo has always been a humble person, Donald says. He was the first to remind us to be humble when we came back to the dressing room; he put some music on and said dont go overboard.
What he did couldnt have happened to a nicer person. He is playing the cricket of his life with the bat, that is his fielding and motivation skills have never dipped. Hes always been the best in the world at that. Jacquess four wickets were magnificent, but Jo never let anyones heads drop. When we were struggling for a wicket, with England at 222-3, he kept telling us that wickets were coming. He said that that session was the best he had ever seen us in the field, and I believe him!
So on to Old Trafford, Manchester. And where to now for the respective teams? The only change South Africa may make is once again at the top of the batting order. With Gerhardus Liebenberg out of favour and Adam Bacher battling to be fit in time after bruising his shoulder at Lords, Brian McMillan could be asked to perform a role for which he is openly reluctant. There will be no other changes.
England, on the other hand, can question so many places that they will probably end up questioning none apart from opener Steve James who looks likely to join the countrys huge club of one-test wonders as Mark Butcher returns.
Off spinner Robert Croft is looking over his shoulder at left-armer Ashley Giles, Mark Ramprakash is justifiably worried about Graeme Hick and Mark Ealham must be sick of the mention of the Hollioake brothers. There are options aplenty in England. But will they do any good?
Still, thats next week. For now there is one more punt to push down the river Cam, one more pint of ale to be had on the river bank and the summer even arrived in Cambridge. Sunshine and the afterglow of Lords.