Second Test preview: England v South Africa

Andrew Strauss & Kevin Pietersen

When England became the No.1 Test side in the world last year, Andrew Strauss stressed that they would not rest on their laurels.

Strauss went most of the way to declaring the start of a prolonged period of dominance, and what would later be deemed as a legacy. But Graeme Swann this week highlighted the stat that makes those words mean as much as one night stand. England have won just three Test matches since then, two against the West Indies and one against Sri Lanka.

Both those nations also earned draws against a side that has often been criticised for a lack of ruthlessness – one that affords itself the luxury of resting its best players so they are supposedly fresh for when it really matters. Instead, now it does, they look considerably undercooked. Pakistan exposed a seemingly everlasting weakness in foreign conditions, and against spin, and now South Africa made them look equally unprepared and out of depth on their own soil.

It’s fair to say the side has a huge amount of work to do to save this three game series, and they must win at Headingley to have any hope of keeping their place at the top above their current opponents. Something must be done, there needs to be a plan, and there seems to have been movements within the squad that suggests a reaction is already taking place.

That first action is the introduction of fearless young Nottinghamshire batsman James Taylor. The 22-year-old as only made one appearance for the one-day side against Ireland earlier this year but he has made a number of centuries for the England Lions and now for Nottinghamshire in his first season in the County Championship first division, following a winter move from second division Leicestershire.

Taylor replaces the ever-disappointing Ravi Bopara at No.6 in the order after the Essex man was forced to sit out this match for personal reasons, and team director Andy Flower has been sure to speak of his hopes for his inexperienced replacement. “The door is open for another player who has come through the academy system and worked really hard over the years,” he said. “I certainly hope James can make No.6 his spot for a while.

"I don't know him that well,” Flower admitted to ESPNCricinfo. “We've had him down for the odd net and he's worked with Graham Gooch. I watched him play against Sri Lanka at Derby last year. He looks like a young man that understands his game pretty well and he knows how to score runs. We don't know how he'll do but we wish him well and hope he has a wonderful international career.”

Another change may see Steven Finn, whom Swann dubs the “unluckiest man in Test cricket” because of his lack of opportunities to play despite immense talent, come in for misfiring Tim Bresnan or Stuart Broad. England have avoided dropping their big players since the 2010-11 Ashes and that maybe something that also needs to change if they want to remain on top of the world.

South Africa shouldn’t make any changes to the team that bent England so severely out of shape at the Oval and, with Smith back after completing a round trip home to attend the birth of his daughter, the team should line up the same. Alviro Petersen will keep his place at the top of the order despite a lean tour so far.

Prediction: England

Lyall Thomas

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