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Rain plays spoilsport at the Oval

Ted Corbett

LONDON: Rain probably only delayed the inevitable at the Oval when the third day of the fourth Test was reduced by two thirds. South Africa which held out for two days at Lord’s ahead of wins at Headingley and Edgbaston were putting up its usual defiant resistance but, with two days left, it seemed unlikely it could save what is rapidly becoming known as the Kevin Pietersen Test.

That was also a probable outcome when Michael Vaughan resigned a week ago and left the way for Pietersen to take charge. So far there is no question that Pietersen has been a success.

He has been either chattering or batting or putting his stamp on the game ever since. He has abolished the huddle, a device brought to the fore by Vaughan even if Nasser Hussain was its first advocate, and insisted that all his players wear England caps.

That was an interesting move from a man who, five years ago as a Notts batsman could be seen showing his parents round Lord’s. Now it is his turn to call the shots. He has already done so by bringing switch hitting to Test cricket; what will he find that is different as a captain.

He uses text messages to encourage his players before a match and I wonder why he should not insist they all take their mobiles on to the field so that he can communicate more easily with, for instance, a fast bowler 50 yards away.

Pietersen did not have a very bright day as he resumed against Hashim Amla and Neil McKenzie, both players with something to prove: both batsmen prepared to fight for their runs or their side.

After a delayed start, he put his faith in James Anderson who had trapped Graeme Smith in such a planned way the previous evening. Steve Harmison also ran in hard but it was not until Pietersen turned to Stuart Broad that the breakthrough came.

I sense he is desperate for Broad to be his major strike bowler for years to come. From his new headquarters at mid-off he seemed to urge him on, telling him that this was his big chance, that England needed this first victim. Broad responded and in four balls McKenzie, a scalp worth claiming, was bowled for 29 at 82. Amla continued smoothly to fifty, unperturbed by the loss of his partner, but Jacques Kallis, a cautious man short of runs, was so vigilant that he needed nine balls to get off the mark.

Missed opportunity

At 58 Amla was dropped by Tim Ambrose, diving and left-handed and not easy, but it may crown his lack of achievements this summer and bring about his departure.

The day’s play was called off two hours before the close with South Africa 110 for two and Amla batting on 71. It was a damp end to a dramatic week in which Pietersen has shown he can direct, give his batsmen a lead and his bowlers a cuddle. If he fails to win this Test he will be criticised by those former Test players who deplore his appointment; if he forces a victory he will be told that the real trial will come in India in December.

So far he has had a tough time from the critics but an easy time from the blatantly tired South Africans. Either way he cannot win or so it seems.

SCOREBOARD

South Africa — 1st innings: 194.

England — 1st innings: 316.

South Africa — 2nd innings: G. Smith lbw b Anderson 0; N. McKenzie b Broad 29; H. Amla (batting) 71; J. Kallis (batting) 2; Extras (b-6, nb-2) 8; Total (for two wkts. in 26.5 overs) 110.

Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-82.

England bowling: Anderson 8-2-31-1, Harmison 9-0-34-0, Flintoff 5-0-29-0, Panesar 1-1-0-0, Broad 3.5-2-10-1.

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