I was anticipating a fantastic series, one in which Freddie Flintoff was always going to make a return at some point, and one in which Kevin Pieterson was almost always going to steal the bulk of the headlines against his former countrymen, but unfortunately it looks as though the weather will play the largest part on the outcome, disappointingly, as is so often the case.
Now, After 3 days play and a batting collapse equaled only by the mediocrity of our bowling display, I fear we are doomed to going 1-0 down in the series. The selectors need to take a look at themselves and wonder what the hell they were doing in bringing in Bob Bollock or whatever his name is in to the bowling attack. Steve Harmison has been back at county level for sometime now, proving his quality and consistency over and again, and although he has retired himself from the labours of the one-day game, he has never hidden his desire to represent his country in the test arena. Here is a bowler of undeniable pedigree, fearsome aggression at times, and on his day, possibly the best bowler in the world. Lets’ take a rather unadorned approach to it, I know who I would rather face from 22 yards, and with Harmison firing 95/mph leather missiles, and generating vicious bounce and movement off the seam, it certainly wouldn’t be him.
England will lose, as the batting line-up is too inconsistent. Sure, Pieterson is a magician, but we need at least another two of him to match South Africa’s middle order, and with Vaughan looking as though he’s batting with a stick of Rhubarb, and the young Alistair Cook facing his first dip in form at the highest level, things are getting rather bleak after such a promising first test at Lords.
I may be made to eat my words, but its even likelier I’ll go just as hungry as our insipid batsmen.