http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Africa-c757 – 2nd Test – Match Preview
A year-long English grip at the no.1 ranked status hangs by a thread as they embark on stopping a rampant South African contingent at their favoured home in the winner takes all second Investec Test, played at Headingley, Leeds, tomorrow, August 2, 2012.
Exactly a year back, the Poms dismantled http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750 in the third Test of the four-match series to emphatically confirm their position as the world’s top Test side. Scenes of jubilation and joy were seen at Edgbaston, where their domination was attributed to a
full-on team effort, headed by http://www.senore.com/Cricket/AJ-Strauss-c964.
2012 has hardly gone to plan for the English inform batters, who had to face the humiliation of in the face of 3-0 whitewash at the hands of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758.
The home summer started slowly but importantly, on a routine note, with the Windies the recipient of 2-0 thumping. The start to the Investec series against the Proteas was also satisfactory – ending day 1 with seven wickets in hand, but what followed was
‘public humiliation’, as termed by http://www.senore.com/Cricket/GP-Swann-c1501.
The battle of the bowling attacks was a no show, while the batting contest was of little match as the touring side went on to register once in a life time performance.
Questions have been raised – the no 6 batting spot, the form of Swann, the idea of an all out pace attack, all of which need to be answered in days to come. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Andrew-Flower-c44362, the man in charge of implementing the various changes, was quick point out that their
opponents were indeed the better side and one could not simply chop and change on the basis of one bad result.
The problematic middle-order position will have a fifth hit and trial pick, this time in young http://www.senore.com/Cricket/RS-Bopara-c2373. Bopara’s comeback, Test game hardly went to plan but he was a certain starter for the Headingley
clash before unexpectedly, withdrawing on the last moment.
That gives http://www.senore.com/Cricket/PD-Collingwood-c2173.
The other point to consider will be whether to risk Swann, who has a chronic elbow problem and remains on the leanest of patches, where he taken just six wickets during the home summer so far. Such has been the respect earned by the English bowlers in the
past two years, that watching them struggle on the field for over 13 overs was an unusual sight, leading the management to contemplate of playing a four-pronged pace attack. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Harold-William-Stephenson-c61707 Finn is expected to come in however, Tim Bresan’s home knowledge could hold
key.
Whatever decision made by the English hierarchy make, their team surely has a tough task on their hands, considering the ominous form of their counterparts. South Africa was ruthless – three of their top players scored centuries, with the stand out being
the triple ton amasser http://www.senore.com/Cricket/HM-Amla-c1557.
The bowling attack is confident and in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/AN-Petersen-c1028 upfront, who also failed to make the most of the two-day practice game at New Road. He however,
is expected to keep his place as the Proteas are likely to go with an unchanged lineup; gunning down the Englishmen once and for all.
The pitch is expected to help bowlers and the overcast conditions would further aid their cause. The nature of the track however, will be affected as the game progresses.
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