Advantage South Africa, heading into Headingley- Opinion
The second Test of the all important Investec Series of 2012 between http://www.senore.com/Cricket/England-c56013 and South Africa will be played at a venue which has gained notoriety over the years for being a seamers paradise. South Africa’s potent attack is considered to be an ominous sign
for an English line up that has succumbed to their ruthlessness on a dry, dustbowl at the Oval. South Africa was too hot to handle for the English and the ghosts of defeat may be lurking around the corner as the teams flock up north from London.
The Headingley stadium has produced some of the best tracks for bowling in the world. These tracks have aided some of the best swing bowlers in the history of the game. The likes of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Curtly-Elconn-Lynwall-Ambrose-c51793 have enjoyed
the ground to the point of destroying England when they encountered them. It is plausible to assume that bowling in the corridor of uncertainty is almost bound to lead to wicket taking opportunities. A rash shot at Headingley often acts to the detriment of
the instigator.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/M-Morkel-c73528. The Proteas won the game by ten wickets and throughout the match, the English batsman were speechless.
An interesting point to note however, is that South Africa had managed to amass 522 in their innings, prior to pushing England off their rear guard. This in part can be attributed to the nature of the conditions which were tailor made for the South Africans
to apply themselves.
Headingley is one of the few grounds in the world which provides both departments of the game a chance to unfold. When the sun is out, the lightening quick outfield along with the moisture and grass drying up makes way for a perfectly placid batting surface.
At the same time significant cloud cover leads to ominous signs for batting teams who are almost bound to capsize. Pakistan’s ability to dismiss http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 for just 88 runs in 2010 is a prime example of what could be achieved if everything acts in the seamer’s
favor.
In light of this, England need to definitely get their trump cards right. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Harold-William-Stephenson-c61707 Finn’s ability to extract good bounce and bowl with an upright seam makes him a mouthwatering prospect for the second Test in a must win encounter. Yet England’s indecision with
regard to including him or not might turn out to be a pivotal factor in deciding the outcome of the game. South Africa on the other hand should resort to their three pronged seam attack and possibly include Marchant De Lange or http://www.senore.com/Cricket/LL-Tsotsobe-c1842 as a fourth
seamer. The Proteas main task would be to encounter the likes of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/GP-Swann-c1501
for England, South Africa give http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Imran-c64193 Tahir a rest, unless they wish to dry out runs.
Drying out runs or tightening things up might not be the right ploy as the teams would battle it out to gain the number one tag in Test Cricket. It needs to be all out aggression from the very start which South Africa mastered at the Oval and England need
to muster at Headingley.
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