3rd Edgbaston test proves test cricket is alive and well.

Since the inception of the twenty over game but most notably since the commencement of the Indian Premier League (IPL) there has been much concerned muttering and animated moustache stroking amongst cricket’s old-school establishment. Surely, how can today’s youth and the future supporters of the game prefer or even comprehend the intrigue, the measured struggle and the ebb and flow of test cricket in the face of three hours of all guns blazing IPL Blitzkrieg? The answer, perhaps, lies in the fact that the days of 1.5 runs per over test matches are largely a thing of the past. It has become commonplace for a batting side to aim for 4 runs per over in favourable conditions, much as Ricky Ponting’s Australian side have done in recent times. Other mere mortal test side’s without the Australian oversupply of top order run machines make do with around 3 to 3.5 runs per over which still makes for result producing test matches. In the last decade only 24% of test matches are drawn with an average run-rate of 3.13, compared to the 41% of tests drawn between 1948 and 1998 at an average run-rate of 2.67. Therefore, modern test matches are more than ever struggles to gain and maintain initiative and momentum, with numerous and abrupt changes in dominance over the opposition providing for extremely tense encounters; this most recent test being a prime example.

DAY 1

What happened?

Englandskipper Michael Vaughan won the toss and considering the overhead conditions made the obvious choice to bat first. His openers got England off to a respectable start with an opening stand of 68 before Andrew Strauss trod on his own stumps, what followed was an innings of uninspired batting and poor shot selection punctuated at it’s end by two needless run outs while Andrew Flintoff was looking to dominate in partnership with the tail enders. South Africaneeded to survive eight overs and did so with the loss of only Graeme Smith.     

Key moments…

Before the commencement of this third test South African kingpin fast bowler Dale Steyn broke his thumb in a net practice allowing Andre Nel (and his alter-ego Gunter) their first test of the series. The English selectors continued with their bipolar selection policy by dropping Stuart Broad and Darren Pattinson, Ryan Sidebottom returning from injury as well as the out of form Paul Collingwood much to the surprise of  many. South Africa would know all to well that they hadn’t won a test series in Englandsince 1965 and now had to face the English without their prime offensive weapon, Dale Steyn.

DAY 2

What happened?

With only a below average first innings total, England would need to strike early and repeatedly to stop the South Africans from batting themselves out of reach and setting up a famous win. England were ineffective in the first session but fought manfully to eventually hold the South Africans to 256/6 at the close of play.

Key moments…

James Anderson took a spectacular catch off of his own bowling to dismiss Hashim Amla to provide the first sight of real English determination and willingness to fight in the test. The later sessions were dominated by the epic battle between champion all-rounders Andrew Flintoff and Jacque Kallis. Kallis showed glimpses of form but struggled to sight the ball effectively and was palpably out LBW only to be given not out when a Flintoff Yorker struck him on the foot. Flintoff continued his full pitched bowling and shattered Kallis’ stumps two deliveries later, ending a battle between two of the games greats marked by their mutual respect for each other’s abilities.

DAY 3

What happened?

England started the day well dismissing Ashwell Prince for 39 early on, wicketkeeper Mark Boucher lived up to his combative nature with some lower order hitting which stretched the South African lead to 83, South Africa all out for 314. With a deficit of less than 100 England found themselves in trouble at 104/4 when Kevin Pietersen (KP) and Paul Collingwood forged a telling partnership of 115, helping England to 297/6 at the close of play.

Key moments…

The partnership of 115 between KP and Collingwood saw England to a position where the South Africans looked in total disarray with the English stretching their lead to 135 when, on 94, KP danced down the wicket in an attempt to hit Paul Harris for a maximum to go to his 100 in style, his self confidence for once exceeding his ability as the catch was taken by AB De Villliers at the long-on boundary. Just before his dismissal, KP was completely in control and never looked like getting out, the South Africans had no answers and the phrase “oh no, not again” was on many South African lips with the prospect of loosing the test a very real possibility. When Andrew Flintoff was dismissed in the same over, the game had been completely turned on its head and any supporters who had gone to the concession stand must have been wondering if they had returned to the same venue.

DAY 4

What happened?

 Paul Collingwood remained not-out overnight with Tim Ambrose joining him at the crease at the start of play, Ambrose’s stay was a brief one as Morne Morkel clean bowled him with only his second delivery. England continued to fight and largely thanks to Paul Collingwood’s 135 were able to set the South Africans 281 for victory, the highest total required for victory in a 4^thinnings at Edgbaston. Set 281 to win, the South Africans started admirably with an opening partnership of 65 when the sighting problems returned for Neil McKenzie as he failed to see an Andrew Flintoff yorker that had him dismissed LBW for 22.Jacque Kallis also struggled to see the ball effectively and was out for the second time in the test to Flintoff. With controversy and wickets tumbling all around him, captain Graeme Smith played one of the best innings of his career going to 154* and in partnership with Mark Boucher 45* took the South Africans to a historic series win.

Key moments…

Paul Collingwood’s magnificent return to form defied his critics and allowed the English a very competitive total who must have fancied their chances until Graeme Smith and Mark Boucher took the South Africans to victory by 5 wickets. Flintoff continued to cause problems with his bowling from the pavilion end striking McKenzie and Kallis who clearly couldn’t sight the ball at all leading them to lose their wickets; Kallis in particular being joined by his coach Mickey Arthur in outrage at what they perceived to be his unfair dismissal. Graeme Smith scored 154 priceless runs to help take his team to victory and can count himself lucky not to be given out when he gloved a Monty Panesar delivery to wicketkeeper Tim Ambrose. Many would argue that Smith must have felt the ball hitting his glove, known he was out and should have walked. Just as many however, would feel that Flintoff’s intentional and repeated use of the poor sighting at the pavilion end was a tad unsporting and thus Smith’s decision not to walk was entirely justified. However the players and supporters may feel, neither parties transgressed any laws of the game and as such their actions merely added to the intense drama and excitement of one of the most absorbing tests of recent memory.

What a game…

There you have it, four days of competitive action that could never be matched by a 20 over run fest. Many point out the brevity of the shorter game as its biggest advantage but I see it as its biggest weakness as well, by following a struggle for multiple days (albeit on-and-off or through highlights packages only) you become increasingly invested in the outcome of the contest. Even if the game ends in a draw you are implicitly aware of what transpired to get the teams to where they are and the weight of the outcome on the rest of the series. The IPL has its charms and is in no uncertain terms the best marketing tool to spread the game of cricket, I only hope that the IPL can serve as a tempting advertisement to lure spectators into the main event of cricket, test matches. What we have now is an opportunity for the administrators and supporters of cricket alike, to take the biggest threat to test cricket and turn it into a vehicle for its revival.