Updated on
Summary 114 not out from Alastair Cook, his 20th Test century, helped England to score of 267 for three.
Preamble Morning. The longer you wait for something in life, the more rewarding it is. Except a chest wax, I suppose. Weve waited an eternity for England v South Africa, the prospect of which has been so exciting as to almost legitimate hyperopia. You know the story by now: best two teams in the world, best two pace attacks in the world, winner takes all, draw keeps England top of the Test Championship, blah blah etcetera. Modern sport is an insecure sort, forever trumpeting its own importance, simultaneously a boor and a bore. But as our old friend David Hopps points out on Cricinfo, this series has needed no hype. Everybody knows this is the one.The teams arent just evenly matched; they are almost related. There are a number of similarities, chiefly a weathered, clinical top order who generally leave the sexy stuff to the fast bowlers. England have home advantage, the better spinner and a superior lower order; South Africa have the worlds greatest bowler and a team full of players who won here in 2008. That experience should not be underrated; South Africa are the only team that this England side have not beaten in a Test series.Few teams do beat South Africa. They may have drawn five of their last eight series but they have lost only one of the last 19. Then again, England have won their last seven series at home and nine out of 12 under Andy Flower. Not since that famous scene in No Country For Old Men has it been so difficult to call it. Yes, its just fine on this fence, thanks.Its a travesty that this series is only three Tests, and those responsible really should be mirror-averse for the forseeable. The dodgy weather may make this a two-Test series or even a one-off Test in nature. That adds a significant element of danger to a series that already has a few too many variables for each sides comfort. One bad session – one lost toss even – could cost you the series. We probably wont get a winding, many-sided narrative, as during the 2005 Ashes, but this might just turn out to be the best Test series since then. Imaginary research shows that sales of Starburst among the cricket fraternity are down 99.94 per cent this morning; aint no mouths need watering.
