England ready to storm South African fortress (22 May 1999)

22 May 1999

England ready to storm South African fortress

Michael Henderson

They are playing at home, and most of the 18,500 spectators will be hooting for a third successive victory, but England should be under no illusions when they meet South Africa today in the decisive match of their World Cup group. However familiar the Oval may feel, the players are really pitching their tents outside the gates of a well-protected fortress, festooned with proteas.

It has taken South Africa only two games to give a convincing impression of invincibility. In the past week they have given India a dismissive flick at Hove and vanquished the Sri Lankans utterly at Northampton, to confirm their status as the tournament favourites. Now they march to London, to remind people that today's FA Cup final is not the only show in town.

The cricket they have played so far has been superb in its range of skills and discipline. As Alec Stewart said yesterday: "They have strength and depth in batting and bowling and they are the best fielding side in the world."

What he didn't say, because he didn't have to, is that for England to prevail they will have to play above the ability they are commonly thought to possess.

Defeat would not be the end of the world, or even the World Cup. Having won their first two games, England should qualify for the second stage whatever befalls them at the Oval.

Victory, on the other hand, would be a boon, for it would show them that all things are possible, and at the same time give them two points to carry forward to the Super Sixes stage of the tournament. Teams earn points for beating opponents who qualify for the second stage with them from their group.

Stewart and his co-selectors face a puzzle this morning: do they stick or twist? Having beaten Sri Lanka easily at Lord's, they made one change against Kenya, when Robert Croft replaced Adam Hollioake, and bowled his off-spinners tidily. Croft will retain his place, to the disappointment of the Surrey captain, who was hoping to play on his home ground, but there may at last be a call to arms for Angus Fraser.

After a closer inspection of the pitch, which the captain pronounced good, and a thorough examination of their strategy, Stewart and David Lloyd, the coach, will decide whether Fraser replaces Ian Austin as Darren Gough's new-ball partner. Austin has performed capably in the two games but Fraser has bowled well on this ground in the past and he may win the vote on the premise that it is time the dog saw the rabbit.

Stewart, as ever, made his observations general. "I'm very happy with the way we have bowled," he said.

"The white Dukes ball is not easy to control in the opening overs and there were a few nerves at Lord's but I reckon we have done a good job. It will be a real test, and we will see how far we have come when we've played this game."

Hansie Cronje, peeping out from behind the fortress he has built brick by brick with Bob Woolmer, the outgoing coach, spoke warmly of England's performance so far. According to the South African captain, whose refusal to mourn the loss of the Test series in England last summer was one of the more notable acts of public decency, England are the one side so far to have batted "properly" in this tournament.

Only four men, in fact, have got to the crease. Graeme Hick has made two undefeated half-centuries, and there have been fifties for Stewart and Nasser Hussain. It means that Graham Thorpe is a bit rusty and the likes of Neil Fairbrother and Andrew Flintoff have not held a bat in anger for two weeks. When they get the chance today, it may be earlier than they would like.

South Africa are mulling over one change of personnel. Nico Boje, the slow left-armer from Free State, will probably replace Steve Elworthy, the fast-medium seam bowler. The absence of a top-notch slow bowler is the only thing that robs their attack of the all-round menace of Pakistan and Australia.

Woolmer denied that last year's Test defeat left any significant residue. "What happened in the past might motivate some of the players, I don't know," he said. "To me it's history. We said beforehand that England would be a force in their own conditions. Their performances in the Texaco Trophy in recent years proves that."

Woolmer would not be drawn on the gossip that continues to link his name with the England coach's job, which will need filling when Lloyd leaves the post next month. "I would like some time to consider what my options are," he said, "which is not to say I am not interested in the job."

In other words: "I'm very interested. How much are you going to pay me?"

England: *-AJ Stewart, N Hussain, GA Hick, GP Thorpe, NH Fairbrother, A Flintoff, MA Ealham, RDB Croft, D Gough, ID Austin or ARC Fraser, AD Mullally.

South Africa: G Kirsten, HH Gibbs, -MV Boucher, JH Kallis, DJ Cullinan, *WJ Cronje, JN Rhodes, SM Pollock, L Klusener, N Boje, A Donald.

Source :: Electronic Telegraph (https://www.telegraph.co.uk)