Amla Matter

World champion showdowns involving a South African cricket team don’t pass this way often. In the limited edition of the game, the South Africans have always managed to extricate themselves well in advance of the grand finale.

With the number one spot beckoning, hosts English waited with a confident anticipation. A miserly three test series scheduled for this great decider in world cricket which, given that the English weather would probably decide at least one of them, placed massive emphasis on the outcome of the first Test. The first encounter was cunningly scheduled at the Oval, a South African hoodoo ground, not a single win from thirteen matches dating back to 1907. The English duly won the all-important toss and chose to bat on a dry wicket that would disintegrate over the five days. They scored two- hundred and sixty odd runs for the loss of just three wickets on day one.

This time it wasn’t about choking, it was about getting cooked. The English commentators were deliberating which South African players could force their way into a combined England-SA XI.

And then, as only cricket can, it all changed completely. The Protea bowlers emerged on day two invigorated and cleaned up the English innings. While the self-same English commentators were emphasising how much South Africa would need to avoid a follow on, Smith, Amla and Kallis created their own show.

637 – 2.

Radio 2000 commentary revealed that only two prior Test matches have ever been won by a side losing only two wickets. I doubt either of those results included a duck in the winning team!

Amla scored the first South African Test match triple century. Ever. That’s going back to 1889. It must have been sweet for him. In his debut season 2004, Amla managed only 36 runs against the English in South Africa and then got discarded. He had the strangest back lift. Kepler Wessels seemed amazed that he could have made it to international cricket level with such a flawed technique. A lesser man may never have come back.

England are shattered. Like the sunglasses he self-destructed, English captain Andrew Strauss must have wished he was playing for his birth country. And maybe the English commentators will be reconsidering their choices for the combined SA-England side. Certainly Swan, Anderson and Broad have some ground to make up.

All is set up for a memorable series. We’ve been here before. Not though with Gary Kirsten as coach. First India now this! He certainly seems to have the golden touch.