First Test: England v South Africa, Lord's, July 6-10.
Posted: Thu Jun 22, 2017 5:56 pmTest cricket returns to planet Earth in two weeks time. And starting in the English high summer, just like it used to in the old days before cricket was played in high def and on spider-cam, and before the ECB had the idea of providing content by playing unattractive opposition at remote northern grounds in the grey rain of May. Back in the sultry, hazy days when a maximum was called a six. Believe in better.
Over this hot early summer, my cultural barometer tells me the profile of the game of cricket in the UK has slipped even further. But the anticipation of the first Test still holds, especially played at Lord's, for my generation at least. And if the appeal of sport is partly a habit, it will have been two months since Pakistan beat West Indies at Dominica. And a long seven months since Chennai, where England acquiesced to another Innings defeat on their discouraging tour of India.
It is one of the grand old stats of English underachievement that South Africa haven't lost a series in this country since Javed Akhtar led England to victory in the deciding Test at the Oval in 1998. And before that, it's 1960. Fred Trueman played in that one. In terms of incident rather than hype or reputation, this is one of the more eventful contests in sport, which can call on the D'Oliveira Affair, the dirt in the pocket controversy and the leather jacket Test to authenticate the claim. But this time, if the legendary provocateur of South African cricket, former captain Graeme Smith, is going to claim the scalp of another England captain, he will have to scheme it from the press box.
England have a new leader in the impressive and thoughtful, but publicly impassive Joe Root. If South Africa travel with few veterans of former Test campaigns in the UK, their flag will be waved by the crafty Faf du Plessis. Maybe no Graeme Smith, but traditional mind games cannot be absolutely ruled out. But one disquiet is existential in their cricket: South Africa sides will always seem troubled in selection while the tides of the country's past and future seem to meet about six or seven choices into their first XI.
In the limited overs cricket they have played so far on the tour, South Africa have given the impression of a tired side on the cusp of a decline. But in Tests they are ranked second (to England's fourth). Trends are hard to establish with the Proteas because they play so few Tests, but last winter they beat an admittedly disorganised Australia, in Australia. Which is a hell of an achievement, almost always. They beat New Zealand home and away and whitewashed Sri Lanka. Which, in the five day game suggests a resurgence after a poor time a year before.
And that earlier slump bottomed out with a 2-1 defeat to their current hosts, which is the highpoint of England's recent form which has fluctuated between that most unexpected triumph, coupled with a commanding Ashes win, but balanced by underachieving in the West Indies and at home to Pakistan- as well as that 4-0 loss in India. Both sides will be suffering from key absences and injuries. It is an uncertain and unpredictable series. We will either have a very close contest, or if it is a rout, we will instead learn something new and unexpected about both of the sides.
Over this hot early summer, my cultural barometer tells me the profile of the game of cricket in the UK has slipped even further. But the anticipation of the first Test still holds, especially played at Lord's, for my generation at least. And if the appeal of sport is partly a habit, it will have been two months since Pakistan beat West Indies at Dominica. And a long seven months since Chennai, where England acquiesced to another Innings defeat on their discouraging tour of India.
It is one of the grand old stats of English underachievement that South Africa haven't lost a series in this country since Javed Akhtar led England to victory in the deciding Test at the Oval in 1998. And before that, it's 1960. Fred Trueman played in that one. In terms of incident rather than hype or reputation, this is one of the more eventful contests in sport, which can call on the D'Oliveira Affair, the dirt in the pocket controversy and the leather jacket Test to authenticate the claim. But this time, if the legendary provocateur of South African cricket, former captain Graeme Smith, is going to claim the scalp of another England captain, he will have to scheme it from the press box.
England have a new leader in the impressive and thoughtful, but publicly impassive Joe Root. If South Africa travel with few veterans of former Test campaigns in the UK, their flag will be waved by the crafty Faf du Plessis. Maybe no Graeme Smith, but traditional mind games cannot be absolutely ruled out. But one disquiet is existential in their cricket: South Africa sides will always seem troubled in selection while the tides of the country's past and future seem to meet about six or seven choices into their first XI.
In the limited overs cricket they have played so far on the tour, South Africa have given the impression of a tired side on the cusp of a decline. But in Tests they are ranked second (to England's fourth). Trends are hard to establish with the Proteas because they play so few Tests, but last winter they beat an admittedly disorganised Australia, in Australia. Which is a hell of an achievement, almost always. They beat New Zealand home and away and whitewashed Sri Lanka. Which, in the five day game suggests a resurgence after a poor time a year before.
And that earlier slump bottomed out with a 2-1 defeat to their current hosts, which is the highpoint of England's recent form which has fluctuated between that most unexpected triumph, coupled with a commanding Ashes win, but balanced by underachieving in the West Indies and at home to Pakistan- as well as that 4-0 loss in India. Both sides will be suffering from key absences and injuries. It is an uncertain and unpredictable series. We will either have a very close contest, or if it is a rout, we will instead learn something new and unexpected about both of the sides.
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