South Africa were the better side admits Andy Flower – Cricket News Update
After being stripped of from their no.1 Test status, England Coach, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Africa-c757 were indeed the better side in the recently wrapped up Investec series, and are deserved holders of the Test crown.
"We have been beaten by a slightly better side in this series. I think that's fair to say."
After indifferent performances throughout the year, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/England-c56013’s Test dominancy hung by a thread before the commencement of the highly awaited, winner-takes-all series against the touring Proteas. However, the Poms failed to emulate their past successes on home soil and suffered a 2-0 defeat, which subsequently put an end to their year-long reign.
The task had been made tougher following a thumping win for the tourists in the first match at the Oval, where they trounced the home side by an innings’ margin. That clearly affected the English camp’s rhythm, which then fell short in the encounters to follow.
The much vaunted English attack was criticised for being one-dimensional, losing a touch of pace as the series took its toll. The spin of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/GP-Swann-c1501 also did not come to the foil, prompting the management to drop him for the first time in over two years.
The fielding was also below-par, where crucial catches were dropped which allowed the South Africans to pile on big hundreds. The off-field distracts also took centre stage, with http://www.senore.com/Cricket/KP-Pietersen-c1806 omitted from the all-important final Test at Lord’s.
It all culminated in the Poms losing out on their no.1 ranked status, with Flower forced to admit that their opponents indeed held advantage all throughout the series.
"We had our chances," Flower said. "At Lord's we dropped two crucial catches. They've caught well in the slip area but I think their bowling attack was a little bit more incisive than ours.
"Their batsmen cashed in and got the big, match-turning innings. Yes, with the assistance of a dropped catch here and there from us. But in the main they deserved to win. We haven't grasped the opportunities that came our way. And, against a good, hardened, experienced side like South Africa, you'll suffer the consequences of that."
Both sides will now contest in a five-match series, starting August 24.
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