Dean Elgar let England try their brand of Gungho cricket against South Africa's seam attack and see what happens . A ruthless attack on pace and swing on the first day at Lord's.
After Kagiso Rabada made the first cut in England's batting lineup, Anrich Nortje cut through his orders at a blistering pace in the middle, spreading the stumps to become England's summer cricket star. Eliminated Jonny Bairstow. , for the ducks, appease a thick edge off the bat ofBen Stokeson the last ball before lunch. The South Africans celebrated the England captain's wicket with enthusiasm, just in time for Norce to bring out Ben Fawkes before heavy afternoon rain ended play with England at 116-6.
England performed a wide-open 'buzzball' earlier this summer to beat New Zealand and beat India. Staying true to their philosophies, even when they briefly swelled in these matches. Stokes insists his players won't lose their newfound attacking instincts whatever the weather, but if South Africa continues with such bowling performances in a three-match series, the test will be bleak. Their determination to break the conventions of cricket will come under the greatest scrutiny.
(Action image by Reuters)
In fairness to the English batsmen, they did not inadvertently lose a wicket and stumps. Instead, the threat succumbed to a varied and consistently executed bowling attack. You might argue they would have been stuck 40-5 at lunch.
Most of those runs were scored by Ollie Pope. He is the one in the sunshine from the golden summer. out. He takes advantage of the rare wayward ball for instinctive shot-making from offside, including extravagant uppercuts from slipcordons to third-man boundaries that inspire confidence in his game. It seemed to me that it was shown to him.
By contrast, Stokes was one of the few English batsmen to have been so underwhelming in this new era, showing some erratic moments here and some success. I charged the pitch without a hitch. Breaking the limit with a few beautifully poised strokes, it felt like he was there for a good time, not a long time, as the England captain cut a thick edge in the third slip to Keegan Peter. Norce celebrated ferociously when he led to Sen's palm..
England's Olly Pope bats on day one of the first test against South Africa
(Adam Davy/PA)
Elgar would have been particularly pleased. The mind game kicked off with a build-up when he downplayed the "buzz ball" while Stokes persistently claimed the notion was lingering in South Africa's head. They continued halfway before play when Elgar won the toss and chose to bowl. To Stokes' visible surprise. Elgar, who has consistently opted to hit first since he was captain last year, insisted his change in tactics would not take England's love of chasing the game away. It has nothing to do with things, it has to do with overhead conditions," he said with a grin.
Labada passed his test of ankle fitness in the second half, and in the opener Lee's he started with five runs and Zach he started with Crowley's nine wickets. Crowley is first class this summer he is not over 50 in cricket. Harry, who is in good form, has Brooke knocking on his door, and it seems likely that he won't be given any more chances.
Rabada's fellow opening his bowler Lungi Ngidi found Pavilion a slow swing from the end, but no reward. At first, his replacement Nortje released England's pressure with a few loose balls on his side, which Pope cut and sent offside. But on the other end, claiming to be South Africa's tallest Test cricketer ever, he's a giant Janssen at 6'8", coupled with his natural pace and bounce, is a devilish I was hooping an inswinger like.
The 22-year-old, playing in his sixth Test match and first match in British conditions, looked completely relieved and embarrassed. When Root leaned forward on his toes at the sight of the ball, he got his reward.Return to his pad. Loud complaints arose, as did referee Nitin Menon's finger. Root thought the ball was going to slide down and quickly checked, but ball tracking predicted the faintest clip of a foot stump and Root disappeared at eight.
Marco Jansen, tallest on the left, celebrates Joe Root turnstiles
(Action image by Reuters)
From there Nortje found a range and clattered 20 minutes Bairstow's stumps in front of Stokes' crucial wicket.
The knocking positive of the afternoon for England was that Pope might at least get a chance to bat in more benign conditions on Thursday. He is due to reach a century in a row. England don't panic or waver from their ways just yet, but they need it to post a competitive score.What this summer has taught us If there's one thing, it's "buzzballing" as much as grabbing bloody victory from the jaws of hopeless defeat.