Legend has it that Robin Hood and his merry men robbed the rich to save the poor in Sherwood Forest, armed with their bows and arrows.
Sherwood is located in the same shire as Trent Bridge (Nottingham), where Graeme Smith and his merry men are well advised to arm themselves with their best bats and balls in the vital third Test against England.
Let’s hope history doesn’t repeat itself. The 1998 England tour also produced a stunning victory at Lord’s, followed by the next Test at Nottingham, with South Africa in top form.
But poisoned arrows (or fingers — remember the Allan Donald vs Michael Atherton umpire tussle?) ruined the Proteas’ victory charge and Atherton and his men reversed fortunes to win the Test and clinch the series later on.
I mentioned in one of my earlier columns that the arrival of Gary Kirsten after the NatWest final defeat would be a timely boost for Smith and his squad, especially for a pressured young captain and coach.
This has proved to be true — Kirsten’s experience and sense of calm have been invaluable to South Africa’s game so far. He is the only player to have experienced three huge Test victories at Lord’s, the previous two tours and South Africa’s lesser performances thereafter. Kirsten is therefore well prepared this time around, with a better idea of what it will take for a series triumph.
Meanwhile Smith’s inspirational leadership has ignited a spirit and determination in the national team, and may well have had a lot to do with the sudden spate of retirements and resignations among the opposition. It is difficult to imagine how England can now clamber their way back, having bowled, batted and fielded so poorly in the first two Tests, shooting themselves in the foot. But beware those poisoned arrows that fly when least expected.
South Africa were in exactly the same predicament after the NatWest final defeat, when the ghosts of their World Cup defeat still lingered — and that is what has made their recent resurrection all the sweeter.
Expect England to attempt a similar counter-attack. They have to, otherwise I fear Duncan Fletcher could be ambushed in his own forest of desperate men. Already he’s rendered himself somewhat invisible, while his bowlers are overprotected and have been poorly selected.
Surely England, with their plethora of players on the county circuit, can find decent medium-fast bowlers who can bowl to a line and length, and create pressure? Surely they can conjure up an effective off-spinner to counter the threat of the irrepressible Smith?
The so-called “King of Spin”, Ashley Giles, is merely feeding our left-handers! Surely England will hold their catches this time? They were surprisingly inept at Lord’s.
New captain Michael Vaughan will, by now, have come to appreciate a harsh reality: captaincy is no easy occupation.
His main problem this week will be a mentally strong South African team that will not let up.
Shaun Pollock, Makhaya Ntini, Andrew Hall and Jacques Kallis will intimidate England’s happy hookers, while the dry conditions will suit a confident Paul Adams after his nine-wicket achievement against Kent.
Too many debutants — Glen Chapple, Gareth Batty and Ed Smith — in an important Test could hinder England’s progress.
Man for man, South Africa are the better team. But then cricket is a funny game.