“It’s important that we give players a fair chance, that they feel as if they belong. We’re telling him it’s in his hands.” - Faf du Plessis on Temba Bavuma’s omission.
TELFORD VICE in Cape Town
NOT only is Newlands at the heart of what Francis Drake called “the fairest cape in all the world”, it is also the fairest Test pitch in all of South Africa. That should allow England an honest chance to level the series with two to play, but they won’t find that easy. South Africa, their players still glowing after winning at Centurion on Sunday in the wake of five consecutive losses, are a team transformed.
Having had their ranks decimated by a virus — fully half of the touring party have been stricken at some stage — England had reason to believe they were almost out of those woods as they journeyed to Cape Town. But the probable enforced absence of Jofra Archer is the last thing they need. Or is it?
Archer took five wickets in the second innings at Centurion, but he went for a run a ball in the process — a significant factor in South Africa’s success. And, two days out, the Newlands pitch already had the look of a slower, browner surface than its counterpart up north. A day later much of grass had been shaved off, exposing evidence of cracks that, if the ground’s history rhymes in this match, probably won’t widen to the point where they become a factor. But by the time the first ball is bowled on Friday the surface may look like it’s already seen a day of action. It’s the first prepared for a Test by Ihtishaam Adams, the new groundskeeper, who would not be human if he didn’t want his debut to go all five days. Hence the slight departure from standard South African practise.
Certainly, Keshav Maharaj had his game face on in anticipation of a greater role in an extended bowling session in the nets on Thursday. And his preparation seems to have gone according to plan: Maharaj high-fived his personal consultant, Paul Harris, so hard that some of the strapping on his fingers flew off.
That said, Ben Stokes didn’t seem daunted at the thought of trying to extract pace from the pitch. Not on the strength of the flick-flak he performed, apparently effortlessly, on the outfield during the warm-up for England’s training session on Thursday.
Both teams will know they are in for a keen contest. South Africa’s winning margin of 107 runs in Centurion was not a fair reflection of the closeness of the match. Without Quinton de Kock’s 95 in the first innings or the second-innings stand of 91 between Rassie van der Dussen and Anrich Nortjé, England might well have won. Only when Joe Root was dismissed to reduce the visitors to 232/6 in pursuit of 376 did the balance tilt decisively in South Africa’s favour.
If anything, Newlands will help narrow the margin between the teams. South Africa have won 26 Tests there and lost 20: starkly different from their record at Centurion, where they have lost only twice in 25 matches. The toss promises to be less important than at many grounds, what with the side batting first having won 22 times and teams batting second 24 times. Unsurprisingly, captains who have called correctly have chosen to bat in 46 of the 57 Tests played at Newlands.
That’s not to suggest that cricket at the ground has been as uniformly dignified as the seemingly flat top of nearby Table Mountain. Famously, South Africa were shot out for 96 in November 2011 — only for the home side to return the favour with interest by dismissing Australia for 47 in 18 overs. And all that after the Aussies had made 284 in the first innings — with Michael Clarke’s brilliant 151 the fulcrum — and before South Africa cruised to their target of 236 with eight wickets standing and Graeme Smith and Jacques Kallis celebrating undefeated centuries.
This time, expect plenty of appreciation for Vernon Philander, who is to retire at the end of the series and will thus play his last Test on his home ground. It was in that crazy game against Australia almost nine years ago that he announced himself in grand style, taking 3/63 and 5/15 on debut. This pitch might not suit what he brings to the party, but a party will be held in his honour regardless.
The England squad posed for a formal photograph in their whites on the outfield before Thursday’s training with Table Mountain as a backdrop. Just as the grey granite giant isn’t as flat as it looks from a distance, Newlands can present as many ups as downs for unsuspecting teams. England, for instance, haven’t won a Test here since January 1957. South Africa haven’t lost a Newlands Test since March 2014. But they won’t bank on that to get them up and over the mountain they will need to climb togo 2-0 up.
When: Friday January 3, 2020. 10:30am Local Time
Where: Newlands, Cape Town
What to expect: Runs, runs, runs, and sun, sun, sun. Along with stands that could easily be filled with more England fans than South Africa supporters, what with 12,000 Barmy Army members apparently around. The “sold out” signs for the first three days were up at the ground on Thursday, when only a few tickets were available for the fourth day.
Team news
South Africa: Faf du Plessis confirmed that the only change to South Africa’s XI would be the inclusion of Pieter Malan, the uncapped 30-year-old opener, in the place of Aiden Markram, who will miss the rest of the series after breaking a finger in the field in the first Test.
Confirmed XI: Dean Elgar, Pieter Malan, Zubayr Hamza, Faf du Plessis, Rassie van der Dussen, Quinton de Kock, Dwaine Pretorius, Vernon Philander, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortjé
England: An elbow injury to Jofra Archer has complicated England's plans and means they will make a decision on the balance of the side on the morning of the game. With Jack Leach not yet recovered from the sickness bug that has ravaged the squad, Dom Bess is a chance to come in as a spin option. If Archer is fit, and Bess is included, one of Stuart Broad or James Anderson might miss out. Ollie Pope, who missed the first Test due to illness, will come back into the team at number six in place of Jonny Bairstow. The visitors' injury/illness situation was compounded late on Thursday when Rory Burns suffered an ankle injury while playing football. Zak Crawley could receive an 11th hour summon to the XI.
Possible XI: Rory Burns, Dom Sibley, Joe Denly, Joe Root, Ben Stokes, Ollie Pope, Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Dom Bess, Stuart Broad, James Anderson
What they said
“It’s important that we give players a fair chance, that they feel as if they belong. We’re telling him it’s in his hands. With opening batters you can’t just throw anyone in there, and the last time Rassie opened for the Lions was a long time ago.” - Faf du Plessis explaining why the injured Temba Bavuma’s replacement at No. 5 at Centurion, Rassie van der Dussen, is being retained in that position and not bumped up to an opening berth. Even though Bavuma, the vice-captain, has passed a fitness test.
“It’s been frustrating throughout but these things happen in sport. You’ve got to manage them as best we can, and we are trying to make sure that if anyone does pick up illness or injury then they are fit and ready to go as soon as possible.” - Joe Root on England’s ongoing struggle to put 11 fit players on the field.
First published by Cricbuzz.
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