It is not often in recent times that England’s test team has been subject to heavy criticism. The old jokes about Ashes defeats and batting collapses have largely been put to bed in the last few years, yet today they are deserving of all their critics’ harshest words.
This series is undoubtedly England’s greatest test of their merit as the world’s best test cricketing side, and an opportunity to prove they deserve a title of which many dispute they are worthy, but the way they were dismantled, down heartened and ultimately humiliated by the South Africans over the course of five painful days at the Oval has left them in no real position to argue their case.
It must be said that South Africa were sublime; this was one of the best displays by a test cricketing side in recent memory. Hashim Amla’s control, stamina and sheer ability was admirable to the utmost as he played his way to a superb triple century, whilst Smith and Kallis also made hundreds and all five of South Africa’s strike bowlers impressed with the ball.
England were thoroughly outplayed and hugely outclassed, but that cannot simply be put down to the excellence of the South Africans. We know that this England side is extremely good – it has the talent to compete with and even beat South Africa, and it is their inability to show even a glimpse of this in the first test that is so disappointing.
Despite South Africa’s mammoth total, most culpability but be placed upon the England batsmen. Alastair Cook’s first innings century was good, and what we have come to expect for him in recent years, but apart from that what seemed like decent knocks from Jonathan Trott and Matt Prior along with a strong defensive display from Ian Bell in a hopeless situation on the final day all paled into insignificance when placed alongside the South African scorecard.
This Oval pitch clearly has a lot of runs in it and England were unable to exploit that despite being in a strong position after the first two sessions on day one – the only time of the five day test in which they looked worthy of their world beaters tag. Ravi Bopara had two excellent opportunities to prove himself as a test match cricketer and failed both times, whilst the likes of Pietersen and Strauss also failed to fire.
With the ball England looked lost for ideas. They have a wealth of bowling talent , but despite the pitch not being in their favour, to take just two wickets to South Africa’s 20 is a humiliating statistic, and one that will hurt bowlers of their calibre. What will hurt more, however, is the ease with which their South African counterparts took apart England’s frail resistance on the fourth and fifth days.
They had four wickets by close of play on Saturday despite only bowling for one session whilst England’s bowlers had gone wicketless all day on the very same track, before mopping up the rest of the line-up on the final day.
Dale Steyn’s five-wicket haul proved why he is the best bowler in world cricket today, but there is not such a gulf in class between him and the likes of James Anderson. Imran Tahir is certainly not a better spinner than Graham Swann and there is no reason why Smith, Amla and Kallis should be able to make more runs between the three of them in one innings than England’s whole side can in two.
England must remember why they are ranked as the best team in the world as they head into the crucial second test, and they must start playing to the level expected of this moniker. They need to bounce back immediately, and with some emphasis. They have what it takes to beat this South African side but they mustn’t let their levels drop like this again, or their time as the world’s leading side will come to an ugly end.