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Day1: South Africa on trial as England let it slip on a damp first day

Centurion - South Africa's lower order batting depth will be on trial tomorrow in the final Test of the series as England strive to turn the screws in a face-saving operation after one of their better bowling performances.Not that the England coach, Duncan Fletcher, was entirely happy with a day's scoreline which had South Africa 155 for six in a shortened first-day's play at SuperSport Park.

He felt, as did most who watched that the England attack let it slip.Too many short balls and a number of straight ones as well, which slid down leg and were helped on their way, enabled South Africa to recover from 55 for four with a dropped catch by Darren Maddy when Daryll Cullinan had 34and South Africa were 112 for five. Not quite what Nasser Hussain had in mind, either.

Especially as it was Cullinan's innings of 46 on a tricky pitch which did much to keep South Africa's innings from being lost though a touch of indecision after Hansie Cronje failed yet again. An inside edge onto his pad was picked up by Maddy at forward short-leg off Darren Gough's bowling after he had faced just six balls.On Saturday, however, Lance Klusener and Shaun Pollock take up the challenge yet again and in conditions where a little sun could make pitch conditions interesting.

Klusener played a couple of interesting drives which could have end been deflected into his stumps but he survived.Having called heads and then asking South Africa to bat first in conditions similar to the first Test at the Wanderers, Hussain and Fletcher had been hoping for a better response from the four seam and swing bowlers, Messrs Andrew Caddick, Gough, Alan Mullally and Chris Silverwood.

A score of 140 for eight would have been more satisfying for England's coach if Fletcher's response to questions was an indication of how he felt about the day's play, which began in dramatic fashion when Allan Donald felt a touch of "gout" in his big left toe was enough to rule him out of a Test where he had been hoping to get close to taking his 300th wicket.

This meant an urgent summons for Mornantau Hayward to rejoin the side. A nice call up to get in the middle of warm up exercises for the A Section game against Free State at St George's Park.

Then again think of Pieter Strydom making his Test debut: the scoreboard reading 55 for four in the 20th over is not quite how you would like to enter the arena; overcast conditions, England's bowling attack hungry and Caddick doing what he can, in tandem with Gough, to grab further wickets.

Strydom is no stranger to crisis, though. He's from a tougher school where a little of the Peter Kirsten charisma rubbed off on him during his early years with Border. Instead of backing off Strydom did what was expected and why the national selectors put faith in his talents: he adopted a positive approach to the proceedings and his 30 off 41 balls saw South Africa move with confidence past 100.

Whether he got a touch to the Silverwood delivery is inconclusive when you look at the TV replays although the Border captain did not seem at all happy about the dismissal.

Then Cullinan, having put together all the hard work hooked at a Mullally delivery which, in all honesty was too wide, and top-edged a catch which the bowler gratefully held. It was a touch of retribution after Cullinan smashed to fine fours, including a perfect cover drive, off Caddick. England, for a change, got a little of their own back against South Africa as Hussain watched with some cheer on a day more in keeping with Birmingham on one of the better days than so-called sunny, summery Highveld. Gary Kirsten departed in an extended first over of the innings.

A no ball with the third delivery to the left-hander meant an extra ball and that particular delivery drew Kirsten forward, forcing the left-hander to play at the swinging delivery for Chris Adams to gobble the first of two catches. The next one was a poached effort in front of Michael Atherton at first slip to get rid of Herschelle Gibbs with 15 runs on the board at the end of the ninth over of the innings.

A bit cheeky when you think of it as the ball was going straight to the erstwhile England captain only Adams wanted to make a better showing of his slip catching abilities than his batting exploits which have been remarkably absent in this, his first, and possibly last series.Kallis did his bit with Cullinan to put a little steel in the top-order when he misjudged a ball from Gough which flew off the splice.

All this action came after play had been delayed by the sort of drizzling conditions which greeted South Africa in Hove last May when their warm up gameagainst Sussex was a washout. Not surprisingly, with almost one and a half sessions lost to the weather, there was a prolonged afternoon with 14 overs remaining when bad light finally closed the day's play.

Day2: Rain gives Watson and Graveney chance to reminisce

Centurion - As the rain bucketed down and any thoughts of fishing outside the off was left to the hardy souls on the banks of the raging Hennops River, a couple of England teammates recalled an over-heated day or two in the Caribbean sun. Day two of the fifth Test of the series had all but been abandoned when the pair grinned at each other.

No, it was neither Beefy Botham nor David Gower discussing events when they were in their batting pomp. It was not either the sandbag, blood and guts man Michael Atherton with a sweaty two-day stubble, or Alec Stewart, the man who took his post when he quit after the last tour of the Islands in the Sun.

They had not even been born in February 18, 1953 when Willie Watson, Yorkshire and England and the man who opened with "Our Len" Hutton on that tour and the elegant Tom Graveney, then of Gloucestershire and later Worcestershire.More in keeping with ruddy-faced farmers from the West Riding and enjoying a dash of orange juice as the rain fell Saturday, the pair talked about a partnership in which they added 402 for the fourth wicket, which is quite a few runs better than Nasser Hussain's side have managed in any Test on this tour.

While on this trip of nostalgic importance to the two heroes during what was decidedly a more fecund period of England batsmanship, the pair chortled at how England had slipped to 51 for three against what was then British Guiana (now Guyana), then put together a remarkable display of batting.

"Good footwork, too," said Watson, now living in South Africa.He scored 257 and Graveney, the more famous uncle of David, now England's chairman of selectors and a notable absentee at this last game before the slogs circus starts, managed 231.

And this after "Our Len" went for a duck, Peter May for nine and Denis Compton 18. Graveney (Tom, not David), batting at five helped MCC (as touring teams from England were then labelled) to a monumental first innings score of 607.

Such was the crassness of the team management's thinking, though, a message was sent out with a pair of gloves (what else?) with instructions for one of them to "get out" and allow Ken Suttle, the spare-parts batsman and wicketkeeper from Sussex, a chance for much needed batting practice. Watson departed with a sense of chagrin with the total on 453, Graveney decided it advisable to stick around for a while longer with the then up-and-coming Lance Gibbs, the second man to 300 Test wickets taking his wicket.

There was nothing at all subtle about Suttle's approach. He was run out for 39 after a touch of steady progress which proved nothing at all. He went on a couple of more tours but did not earn a test cap, yet was better than some who pass for England batsmen these days.

Compton had already watched Watson and Graveney dismantle the 399-runs partnership for the fourth wicket which was at that stage the highest for an MCC touring side and which he and Reg Simpson put together against North-Eastern Transvaal at Willowmoore Park.

Benoni on the 1948/49 tour of South Africa.Halcyon moments which had a special meaning to two old England batsmen who could show the modern school what batting with skill and pride was all about. Reality soon returned: the day's play of this last Test in the series was abandoned and the two gentlemen chaffed each other about their running between wickets; Watson, left-handed and dependable, Graveney with a touch of charm about his strokeplay. England could do with two batsmen as good as were these two.

Day3: Rained off days cost Northerms millions

Centurion - If we are to believe the Weather Bureau the rain has been abnormal and was not predicted but a grim-faced Northerns Cricket Union president, Richard Harrison, spelled it out in far simpler terms a gate loss of R2.4-million on the fifth Test.Harrison released the figures yesterday before the second of the three scheduled day's play was rained off without a ball being bowled.

The NCU president said that the severe losses would mean cut backs in some programme areas but declined to elaborate what these would entail. It is the second time in four seasons that the union has been hit by heavy losses which combined amount to around R4-million.England's previous Test at the venue, the first of the 1995/96 tour in mid-November, saw play until shortly after tea on the second day when the game was rained off for the remaining three day's with a projected R1.2-million profit turned into a loss of R650 000.

This time only 45 overs have been possible with the projected profit of the match from gate revenue of R1.6-million now turned into an estimated loss of R2.4-million which included an additional R800.000 loss from what he called "bottom line" figures. These include the running of the venue, hire of security staff, gate-keepers, catering and other cost factors.

A heavy shower, which took the tally past the 200 mm mark since Thursday, swept in from the west around 2.15 pm and play was abandoned barely five minutes later. At that stage there had been some chance that there might be the possibility of some play as the waterlogged bowlers run-ups dried out slowly on what was overcast conditions.

The level of the Hennops River along with the rain which has fallen has pushed the water table to near the surface for the first time in four years and affected the run ups.A projection of between 32 000 and 36 000 spectators had been expected over the two days with an estimated 18 000 yesterday.

"Standing here is in a sense of feeling of déjà vu," he said."A Tests against England is (financially) an important one, not withstanding their position on the international ladder," he said. "There is still that 'old score to settle' and the match is lucrative as it brings in the crowds and a lot of visitors to the country."Such a match is financially more beneficial than a game against say India.

"The loss revenue is heavy R1.6-million along with R800 000 is a lot of money. It is premature at this stage to say what programme will be affected but they will be cut back," he admitted.He did not expect the United Cricket Board would step in with a loan to help off-set the losses as they did not assist with a grant over losses incurred in 1995/96.

While there was no refund on tickets sold."In this case we might have to reach some sort of accommodation," he said. "I am uncertain what this will be. We might swap a day in terms of another match, but this has to be investigated." He said insurance had not been taken out against rain as it was "very expensive while the rain we are having "is totally unprecedented".

Insurance is taken out on one-day internationals but not for a Test.The players of both teams did not bother to turn up and the two captains were summoned to the ground around noon for an inspection of conditions at 1pm. Nasser Hussain was at his hotel while Hansie Cronje had been watching the golf at Houghton.

Day4: Bacher's plan to throw Northerns a lifeline

Centurion - As losses for the rain-damaged fifth Test in the Millennium series move past the R2.5-million mark, the United Cricket Board are planning to throw Northerns a financial lifeline.

Dr Ali Bacher, managing-director of the UCB, has come up with a plan which could go someway to lessen the NCU's financial disaster after the fourth-day's play also ended without a ball being bowled because of a large wet muddy patch in the southern end of the ground.The suggestion is that Northerns host two limited-overs internationals in the 2001/02 season when India and Australia are the touring sides.

Dr Bacher said he would place the idea before the UCB's executive to see if, during that summer, SuperSport Park could host both touring sides in the limited-overs series."I have put this idea to Richard Harrison and Brandon Foot and they have welcomed the suggestion," Dr Bacher said yesterday as frustrated British visitors who had stayed on after the Cape Town Test complained about a lack of on-field action yesterday with the match being called off at 1pm.

Harrison is president and Foot vice-president of the NCU.It seems that India and Australia are to play seven LOIs during their tours which meant there would be 14 games spread between the UCB's 11 affiliates. Because of this it would enable Dr Bacher, when tour arrangements were made, to slot the Northerns venue into two instead of one international limited-overs game.

There is little doubt that Dr Bacher will use his influence to push for two LOIs at the venue which, he said, was one of the world's finest Test venues and was in no danger of losing its Test status. The venue is to host either New Zealand or Sri Lanka during next summer twin series tour programme.

Bloemfontein are to stage the first Test of the New Zealand tour in November but the remainder of the programme has yet to be released. "Every time there is a Test overseas visitors remark on its picturesque setting and generally friendly atmosphere," Dr Bacher said. This time three former England players, Doug Insole, Tom Graveney and Mickey Stewart, father of Alec Stewart, have been complimentary about the ground and have sympathised with UCB and NCU officials about the phenomenally wet weather.

There has been an argument, supported by former English county players, that had the game been played in England it would have gone ahead. It was also the view of some media members who played county games as well for England that South Africa players had become tad "prima donna" in their approach.Hilbert Smith, in charge of the company, Centurion Turf, which oversees preparation of the ground, said that in his opinion the surface was fit for play.

The problem area, at the Hennops River (south) end of the ground, could have been cut out and replaced with dry sods. It seems the umpires, Rudi Koertzen and Darrell Hair, were not in favour of this plan.

The water level of the ground was still very high hours after the game was called and another difficulty was that water from the draining system went into the river and causing it to have a higher level than normal."It makes for slower drainage than normal," he said. What does seem likely, though, is that there will be plans in the winter to try and alleviate the problem to prevent a recurrence.

Day5: Dramatic last day sees England squeeze home

Centurion - As chewed finger nails lay almost knee deep in some areas of the ground and tears filled the odd bucket or two, England snatched a dramaticface-saving last over victory after South Africa's captain Hansie Cronje decided to make a game what had been almost a rain-ruined fifth Test.

Although South Africa had wrapped up the series 2-0 by the time they reached the match at SuperSport Park on Friday it needed an unprecedented series of events by Cronje to set up the possibility of an exciting finalday's play after three of the five had been lost to the weather and underfoot conditions.

The defeat by two wickets as England reached 251 for eight ended South Africa's sequence of 14 matches without losing a game since Leeds 1998 when England,then led by Alec Stewart, won that series 2-1 with some alleged aid by the Pakistan umpire Javed Akhtar.

It was Stewart, however, who took the England innings by the scruff of the neck and, with Michael Vaughan, put together a substantial partnership of 126 forthe fifth wicket which hauled England back in with a chance. Not that it was easy for both sides, as both captains later admitted.

Stewart had been pushed up the order to four and was a more positive sign from Nasser Hussain, the England skipper, who had allowed him to fill fifth spot inthe batting order.

When he arrived with the score at 67 for two in the 26th over Stewart must have wondered whether the role selected for him was the right one.

For Vaughan, though, six is a little lower than he should normally bat. And with Paul Adams off the field with a fractured middle joint of his middle finger, the spin variation Cronje needed was missing.

Although England declared their first innings 0/0 South Africa forfeited their second innings, as prescribed by the laws; a technical point but in keeping with the mechanics of note two of Law 14, forfeiture of second innings..

It was easy enough for Hussain to accept the argument as well as the challenge of a moderate target of 249 off 76 overs. After all South Africa had managed toadd 93 runs before Cronje applied the declaration as the muscle and backbone of the lower-middle order found the pitch to their liking.

If Stewart's innings was positive, man of the match Vaughan, who drive with firm confidence through the covers on a number of occasions, was more revealingas he scored his first half century of the series.

Then came the change of mood in the innings. Having done all the important work Stewart edged a catch from Mornantau Hayward to Mark Boucher, who snapped upfour catches in the innings. When Darren Maddy was run out by Gary Kirsten from mid-off and Andrew Caddick went two balls later in the same Shaun Pollock over.

Vaughan then departed, trying to work a Hayward delivery past point and at 240 for eight, England were quaking again and the large afternoon crowd whichturned up to watch the entertainment were enthralled.

Then, with six needed off seven balls Chris Silverwood plucked a boundary from Pollock's last over and Gough pulled Hayward for four through mid wicket to seal the victory.

Neither captain would know too much about the history of modest declarations. Cronje had given New Zealand a target in excess of 260 on the last day of theCentenary Test at Eden Park five summers ago. Garry Sobers was a lot more generous to England at Port of Spain, Trinidad, in early 1969 when he declareda second innings closed at 92 for two and left England a target of 215 on the last day.

Colin Cowdrey (now Lord Cowdrey of Tonbridge) and Geoff Boycott combined in a match-winning partnership which gave England the series 1-0 and Sobers wascriticised by a Caribbean Press for handing England the series.

There was some tidy strokeplay from Klusener and Pollock as they took their partnership to 60 from what had been 19 on the first day of the rain despoiledmatch.

Pollock drove firmly and hit Caddick for two fours in one over. One was a straight drive on the up which left the England fast bowler standing mid-pitchshaking his head.

Klusener was also on the driving range: a four off Gough took him to his half-century off 77 balls, the highest score of the South Africa innings. He also went to his 1 000 runs at Test level with a crisp drive off Gough: the sort of drive to remember.