South Africa is hoping to gain revenge on England when the teams meet at Edgbaston on Thursday in the first of five tests. It won’t be easy.
South Africa is without star playmaker and all-rounder Jacques Kallis, whose father Henry died from lung cancer on Wednesday morning at age 65. Kallis, who missed his country’s tour of Bangladesh in April to be with his father, flew to Cape Town after South Africa’s loss to England in the final of the one-day series two weeks ago.
He was the star performer in the series, though Michael Vaughan’s England still beat the Proteas in the final at Lord’s. Without him, South Africa might struggle at Edgbaston, England’s most successful venue.
England has won half of the 38 tests played there while losing just seven. Four of the defeats were against Australia (1993, 2001) and the West Indies (1995, 2000).
South Africa has failed to win at Edgbaston in four tries.
England already enjoys a psychological edge over the Proteas by winning the one-day matches, something South Africa’s 22-year-old captain, Graeme Smith, knows.
‘If we can just leave something in the back of their minds for the test series, then it would be great,” Smith said before the final at Lord’s.
But South Africa was hammered in a match that lasted just 52 overs in front of a capacity 32 000 crowd.
While the Proteas might struggle to live up to their No. 2 ranking behind world champions Australia, England looks strong, fielding one of the most balanced sides in recent memory. Test captain Nasser Hussain won’t have a full squad of swing bowlers, but Darren Gough is back for his first test in 21 months after recovering from a knee injury.
And even without veteran Andy Caddick (back), Matthew Hoggard (knee) and Richard Johnson (groin), England’s seam attack of Gough, James Anderson, Andrew Flintoff, and either Steve Harmison or James Kirtley looks potent.
Flintoff, who missed the Ashes series in Australia and two tests against Zimbabwe at the start of the summer, is in top form. He was voted player of the series in the one-day matches, and his presence gives England the balance some would say it has lacked since all-rounder Ian Botham retired.
Without Kallis, South Africa turns to opener Gary Kirsten to lead from the front. The bowling will depend heavily on Shaun Pollock, who’s bowled well without taking wickets in the one-day series.
The second test will be played Sunday.
Lineups:
England – Marcus Trescothick, Michael Vaughan, Mark Butcher, Nasser Hussain (captain), Anthony McGrath, Andrew Flintoff, Alec Stewart (wicketkeeper), Ashley Giles, Darren Gough, James Anderson, Steve Harmison or James Kirtley.
South Africa – Graeme Smith (captain), Gary Kirsten, Boeta Dippenaar, Herschelle Gibbs, Neil McKenzie, Jacques Rudolph, Mark Boucher (wicketkeeper), Shaun Pollock, Paul Adams, Makhaya Ntini, Robin Peterson, Dewald Pretorius, Thami Tsolekile, Charl Willoughby and Monde Zondeki.
Umpires: Daryl Harper, Australia, and Srini Venkataraghavan, India. Television umpire
Match referee: Ranjan Madugalle, Sri Lanka. – Sapa-AP