England vs http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Africa-c757 – 3rd Test - Match Preview
The home of cricket plays host to the pinnacle format, as the touring South African look set to create history and overpower a dispirited http://www.senore.com/Cricket/England-c56013 unit in the all-important battle for Supremacy – the third and final Investec Test - starting 16th August, 2012.
With the KP saga unravelled, the home team has been dealt a psychological blow, which finally bore the brunt of the Kevin Pietersen- ECB saga. In the era fast communication - YouTube, Twitter - both parties were a bit naïve in trying to solve the issue behind closed doors, ultimately leading to a media circus which left the ECB with little choice but to drop their premier asset just days after he had hit a sublime 149 to instill some self-belief in his teammates.
However, all that vanished in the past week following revelations made by KP regarding his isolation in the otherwise highly integrated dressing room. That comments got the media all geared up to explore more and the final nail in the coffin was his axing from the final Test after the player failed to clarify his role in some of the derogatory texts he had sent to the South African players about Andrew Strauss and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Andrew-Flower-c44362.
Amidst all this, their preparations for the Test could hardly have gone to plan but they know the uphill task they need to overcome in the next five days in order to save their Test crown. They had recovered just in time to salvage their status in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Thomas-George-Burrows-c93472ag12#.
They don’t have the luxury of KP anymore and considering their past showings in the series, they need to quickly buckle up against a ruthless opposition. Jonny Bairstow was included in the squad and it remains to be seen what combination will be preferred by the English management.
They have already tinkered by playing four pacers but that move hardly paid dividends. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Harold-William-Stephenson-c61707 Finn.
The touring contingent is deservedly ahead in the series following an impressive performance at the Oval. Their Headingley showing was patchy, owing to injuries, rain and Pietersen’s onslaught, but they still managed to give a good account.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/JH-Kallis-c1692, all hinted that the team will go into the clash with a positive approach, despite needing a draw to reach the summit. Their preparations have been pretty much settled, despite the fact that they too had to deal with the KP row.
However, with him out, the Proteas will definitely fancy their chances and will come all guns blazing to seal the deal.
This will be the first game at Lord’s after the Olympics and the nature of the pitch will be aid batters, owing to the warm weather. However, with England needing a win, they might opt for a greener track in a bid to take 20 wickets.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/AJ-Strauss-c964 will be playing his 100th Test – 50th as captain, and will be eager to turn the tides and ensure that his side clings on to its title. The Proteas however, remain firm favourites for now. Let the battle begin.
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