The coming weeks provide the current crop of England players with the opportunity to magnaminously prove that they are the best team in the world. South Africa are currently ranked third in the ICC rankings, however are arguably the top team in the world, and surely pose the greatest threat to English dominance. On Thursday the first test of a three match series commences at the Oval. Fifteen days of enthralling cricket lie ahead, as the two strongest teams battle it out to assert their dominance over world cricket.
This South African team is packed with talent, both in the batting and bowling departments, and on its day possesses the ability to dismantle any opposition before them. The experienced Jacques Kallis has been one of the stars of world cricket for the past decade, and along with A B de Villiers, Jacques Ruddolph and arguably the best batsman in international cricket at the current time, Hashim Amla, he forms part of a formidable middle order. In addition to that captain Graeme Smith will be looking to set his side off to a fantastic start.
One issue for the tourists is the unfortunate eye injury to their legendary wicketkeeper Mark Boucher, who was cruelly struck by a flying bail after Imran Tahir had shattered the stumps. Boucher has since retired from international cricket and will hopefully make a full recovery. The gloves will be taken by the capable de Villiers, and in his place another specialist batsman will add even greater depth to a phenomenal line up. However he will be opposed by the top wicketkeeper batsman of the current crop in Matt Prior.
Yet in England they face another incredible batting side. Alastair Cook is an outstanding talent at the top of the order, skipper Andrew Strauss has returned to form, and Jonathan Trott is often an unmoveable wall at the crease. Ian Bell and the recalled Ravi Bopara are very capable, and then there’s the small matter of the indomitable talent of Kevin Pietersen who shone for his county Surrey last week, scoring a double century at Guildford.
In Dale Steyn South Africa have one of the quickest and arguably the deadliest bowler in world cricket, and he is ably supported by the improving duo of Morne Morkel and Vernon Philander. The combination of Steyn’s pace, Morkel’s awkward bounce and Philander’s deadly accuracy form a formidable trio of fast bowlers, rivalled only by the England attack.
James Anderson is the greatest manipulator of the English conditions in the world, utilising the swing friendly conditions. Stuart Broad has progressed into a top class international bowler, and Tim Bresnan is a workhorse who allows others to shine and a lucky charm for England. Then there is Graeme Swann, the off spinner with the ability to destroy any opposition line up.
The presence of Swann may well be the difference between the two sides, as his South African counterpart Imran Tahir is not in the same league. A good bowler on his day, Tahir will graft but doesn’t possess Swann’s natural ability. Whereas South Africa will largely rely on their seamers, England’s attack possesses superb balance and no apparent weakness, which could be instrumental in determining the fate of this series.
Both teams are incredibly strong, and the series is likely to come down to only small margins. The tourists can displace England at the top of the rankings, and will surely work England harder than any other opponents have recently on home soil. All we need now is the weather to improve, and cricket to take centre stage.