From the moment Graeme Smith won the toss at Edgbaston, he defied a recent spate of Test-match results at this venue by batting first. In recent times, the teams batting here first have lost.
It is never easy for a batsman or captain to take first strike on the first morning of the first Test of such an important series. Ask England captain Nasser Hussain about when he put Australia in to bat in the first Test in Brisbane last November — the Aussies amassed 500, won the Test and the Series — but then Hussain is of brittle ilk compared to our fearless young hero. The absence of Jacques Kallis and the presence of the out-of-form Herschelle Gibbs makes ‘Captain Marvel’s” record-breaking feat even more remarkable.
Never mind that Smith might have been caught in the slips early on (with the ball bouncing short), survived a very confident LBW appeal versus Ashley Giles or that England’s bowling was unbelievably wayward on the first day.
You make your own luck, you set the tone for the entire match. I was particularly impressed with Smith’s and Gibbs’s running between the wickets — that was positive body language, surely testimony to the team’s cholesterol-free diet!
Gibbs harnessed his God-given talent at just the right time. Twenty-five balls and just minutes for the maestro to open his account while his skipper was firing at the other end must have been sacrilege for him.
Gibbs has probably taken heed of the criticism from many of us about his technical application. I watched the whole first session of the first day and it was great Test cricket, intriguing stuff, as Gibbs tightened up, displayed patience and then blossomed as the poms began to wilt.
Michael Vaughan of England was also sublime to watch — he’s a really classy player. On a fine batting wicket throughout, his counter-attack was also played with grace under pressure amid keen, motivated South African bowling. Assistance from the talented Andrew Flintoff and ‘The King of Spain” (Giles) made the game safe for England.
But there was a glaring lack of incisive, aggressive spin-bowling from both teams. One tires of the left-arm spinner over the wicket, into the rough, as opposed to the right-hander. This is a run-saving ploy, not a wicket-taking tactic, which suggests that captain and bowler lack the confidence and ability to produce that magic delivery. With the return of Kallis, hopefully Paul Adams will get his chance, as Robin Petersen is not skilled enough at Test level.
The King of Spain’s nickname reads ‘The King of Spin” on a Warwickshire cricket benefit beer mug. But that label flatters Giles. King of spin is what he clearly is not and he’s also guilty of unimaginative tactics. Unless the spinners from both sides become more adventurous in their approach, we could have four draws and only one result at Headingly.
And so to the House of Lords. South Africa recorded momentous victories here in 1994 and 1998. Expect the pitch to be another good one for batting when England and South Africa lock horns for the second Test.
While Smith and his team might have bolted with gusto last week, England’s bowlers will work hard to regain supremacy. But the exploits of our rookie Captain Marvel will have ignited a flame within the South Africa camp, creating an air of expectancy and quelling all previous cynicism.
Test cricket is emotional. The team that handles their emotions better will win this vital clash.