South Africa surge ahead of England
Plays of the day for day three, South Africa v England, 4th Test, Johannesburg
Andrew McGlashan in Johannesburg
16-Jan-2010
Jacques Kallis received a spitting delivery first up this morning, but it proved a false dawn for England • Getty Images
Sidebottom's brute
Ryan Sidebottom's selection ahead of match-saving hero Graham Onions raised a few eyebrows. He didn't bowled badly - although Onions would also have been a threat on this surface - and he has run in hard for his captain. On the third morning, with England desperate for wickets, he produced a wicked delivery to Jacques Kallis which got the batsman in an awful tangle as he tried to pull. The top edge glanced Kallis's shoulder and looped out to gully where James Anderson showed his catching skills by pulling off a blinder.
Ryan Sidebottom's selection ahead of match-saving hero Graham Onions raised a few eyebrows. He didn't bowled badly - although Onions would also have been a threat on this surface - and he has run in hard for his captain. On the third morning, with England desperate for wickets, he produced a wicked delivery to Jacques Kallis which got the batsman in an awful tangle as he tried to pull. The top edge glanced Kallis's shoulder and looped out to gully where James Anderson showed his catching skills by pulling off a blinder.
Over to you, Daryl
It was never going to be a quiet day for Daryl Harper. Firstly the ICC released a statement defending their umpire after yesterday's controversy surrounding Graeme Smith and then Harper denied comments in his Facebook page were actually his. It wasn't long until he was called upon to make another decision, this time against AB de Villiers' sweep which was caught at leg slip. Harper overturned Tony Hill's 'out' decision even though there didn't appear enough evidence to do so. England were already mad, now they were fuming.
It was never going to be a quiet day for Daryl Harper. Firstly the ICC released a statement defending their umpire after yesterday's controversy surrounding Graeme Smith and then Harper denied comments in his Facebook page were actually his. It wasn't long until he was called upon to make another decision, this time against AB de Villiers' sweep which was caught at leg slip. Harper overturned Tony Hill's 'out' decision even though there didn't appear enough evidence to do so. England were already mad, now they were fuming.
Swann does it again
It's a surprise when Graeme Swann doesn't make an immediate impact with the ball. He'd almost removed Smith in his first over on the second day but ended his first spell wicketless. He made amends, though, with the first delivery of his second stint when he found the outside edge of the struggling JP Duminy, removing the left-hander for the fourth time in the series. According to detailed research it was the 15th time in his Test career Swann had struck in the first over of a spell, but from there the match was quickly taken away from England.
It's a surprise when Graeme Swann doesn't make an immediate impact with the ball. He'd almost removed Smith in his first over on the second day but ended his first spell wicketless. He made amends, though, with the first delivery of his second stint when he found the outside edge of the struggling JP Duminy, removing the left-hander for the fourth time in the series. According to detailed research it was the 15th time in his Test career Swann had struck in the first over of a spell, but from there the match was quickly taken away from England.
KP throws it away
Kevin Pietersen has had a tough time of late with a shortage of runs and he doesn't look himself in the field, either. It has been easy to lose count of the number of times he has dived over a ball and his latest blunder was hurling the ball miles wide of the stumps - out of reach of anyone backing up - and conceding four overthrows. He apologised to his team-mates and when he fielded cleanly a short while later received an ironic cheer from the crowd. His response was to doff his cap - at least he still had a sense of humour.
Kevin Pietersen has had a tough time of late with a shortage of runs and he doesn't look himself in the field, either. It has been easy to lose count of the number of times he has dived over a ball and his latest blunder was hurling the ball miles wide of the stumps - out of reach of anyone backing up - and conceding four overthrows. He apologised to his team-mates and when he fielded cleanly a short while later received an ironic cheer from the crowd. His response was to doff his cap - at least he still had a sense of humour.
Up periscope
Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel were fired up when they came out to bowl during a thrilling passage of play. Alastair Cook didn't last long and Jonathan Trott was given a less-than-warm greeting in the middle. Trott's first innings was a horribly skittish affair and his second wasn't any better. As he went down to avoid a Morkel bouncer the ball clipped the back of his bat and flew down to fine leg for four then, in the next over from Steyn, he fended outside off and offered a regulation catch to third slip. A series that started in such promising fashion ended in forgettable style.
Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel were fired up when they came out to bowl during a thrilling passage of play. Alastair Cook didn't last long and Jonathan Trott was given a less-than-warm greeting in the middle. Trott's first innings was a horribly skittish affair and his second wasn't any better. As he went down to avoid a Morkel bouncer the ball clipped the back of his bat and flew down to fine leg for four then, in the next over from Steyn, he fended outside off and offered a regulation catch to third slip. A series that started in such promising fashion ended in forgettable style.
Please, sir, can we have our review back
The fall-out from Smith's 'edge' rumbled on throughout the day with statements from the ICC in Dubai and the ECB, while Giles Clarke did the media rounds of written press, TV and radio to plead England's case. It emerged that late on Friday Hugh Morris, the ECB managing director, had written to the ICC to ask for England to have the review used on Smith's appeal reinstated. Good luck with that one…when are they going to be given it? Their batting innings, their next Test or the next time they play South Africa. They didn't cover themselves in glory.
The fall-out from Smith's 'edge' rumbled on throughout the day with statements from the ICC in Dubai and the ECB, while Giles Clarke did the media rounds of written press, TV and radio to plead England's case. It emerged that late on Friday Hugh Morris, the ECB managing director, had written to the ICC to ask for England to have the review used on Smith's appeal reinstated. Good luck with that one…when are they going to be given it? Their batting innings, their next Test or the next time they play South Africa. They didn't cover themselves in glory.
Andrew McGlashan is assistant editor of Cricinfo