Key decision is big let off for South Africa against England and highlights why technology must be used to call out front-foot no-ballsThe current argument in football is that VAR is sucking the life out of the sport because checks for offside after every goal ruin the moment of spontaneous joy. In cricket, despite technology having been a feature of the international game for more than a decade, there is a similar problem. That is because the lack of automated checks for front‑foot no-balls until something of significance occurs means bowlers are only being scrutinised for overstepping after they have taken a wicket.This was the case shortly after lunch on the second day of this second Test when England’s Stuart...
England need Root at his very best with the bat if they are to have any hope of progressing as a Test team. At the moment they are going backwardsYou had to commend Joe Root’s honesty when he walked after gloving behind a short ball from Anrich Nortje on the opening day of this second Test against South Africa. Yet perhaps the time is nearing for him to be equally honest about his own position as England’s Test captain.To be frank, it just isn’t working out. This latest innings from Root, a largely fluent 35 from 49 balls, offered more evidence as to why he should not be in the job. Related: Ollie Pope delivers solitary shaft of light for...
The England captain needs runs and victories against a South Africa side who have turned to their former captain Graeme Smith for guidance at a time of disarrayThe last time England set off on a winter tour at election time they were also heading for South Africa – in October 1964. On that occasion the political contest had rather more impact on the tour party. Ted Dexter, who had been England captain throughout the Ashes summer of 1964, stood for the Conservatives against Jim Callaghan in Cardiff South East, an undertaking that meant that he was replaced as captain by MJK Smith.Dexter mustered 22,288 votes in Cardiff but – fortunately for England’s middle-order – Callaghan polled 7,841 more than that...
Yorkshireman will have to work his passage with the bat on four-Test tour of South Africa with Jos Buttler remaining the first-choice wicketkeeperThe size of England’s tour party to South Africa betrays the uncertainties. A squad of 17 players is unusual given there are just two warm-up matches and then four Tests in a row. Some of them – Matt Parkinson and Zak Crawley being the likeliest candidates – will be in the nets and in their bibs, enhancing their drink-ferrying capabilities for most of the tour.One other, Mark Wood, will spend more time on the lonely rehabilitation road. It is quite a compliment to him that England are prepared to have him in the squad in the knowledge that...
An insult on his ODI debut from Ricky Ponting inspired the firebrand bowler to become a living legend of cricketThe first time Dale Steyn bowled to Ricky Ponting, he was a 22-year-old kid playing his very first game of 50-over cricket for South Africa. He started with a no-ball, and followed it up with a second soon after, then a third, and a fourth, until his captain Graeme Smith finally decided to pull him out of the attack.Steyn finished with five overs for 58 runs. Years later it wasn’t the pain of how poorly he had played that stayed with him but the way Ponting treated him later on, after Australia had won. He blanked him as they were shaking...