ENGLAND v SOUTH AFRICA 1956-57

England took control almost from the start and never relaxed, finally racing to victory when South Africa collapsed badly for the second time in two Tests. Cricket history was made on the last day when the first handled ball dismissal occurred in a Test Match.

Tyson, because of tonsillitis, could not be considered for England, being replaced by Loader. McGlew, despite his shoulder trouble, captained South Africa, displacing Taylor. May won the toss for the second time and it quickly became obvious that the pitch lacked pace which, with South Africa's type or attack, proved a big handicap to them. Richardson and Bailey gave England a sound start, but soon after lunch South Africa broke the stand and, in the space of seventy minutes, three wickets, including that of May, fell for the addition of 43 runs.

The situation changed when Cowdrey joined Compton. Neither took the slightest risk, but they rarely looked in trouble. They added 67 and by the close England, with a total of 214 for four, had recovered well. Tayfield, going on fifty minutes after the start of the match, bowled unchanged at one end until the close, sending down 41 successive overs and taking three of the four wickets for 69.

England lost Insole early next morning, but South Africa's hopes of finishing the innings quickly were dashed by Cowdrey and Evans, who put on 93 in eighty-five minutes. Evans, one of the few batsmen who attempted attacking strokes, scored 62 of the runs. The next three wickets fell for 20, but Cowdrey remained, and when Statham, the last man, joined him he needed 20 for his century. At last, departing from rigid defence, Cowdrey, after being missed at long-on off Tayfield when 85, punished that bowler for 13 in an over and reached his century. One run later he was out, having batted six hours ten minutes and hit one 6 and nine 4's. His solid play helped considerably to give England their good total.

McGlew and Goddard looked safe enough when they opened the South Africa innings, but when the slow bowlers appeared the situation changed rapidly. McGlew, batting with his shoulder strapped, fell in Laker's fourth over, and although the fast-medium Loader took the next two wickets it was apparent that spin was going to decide the match. South Africa finished the second day at 51 for three and despite useful efforts from McLean and Waite they never really recovered. Laker could not get the ball to turn quickly, but Wardle, with his off-breaks and googlies, caused innumerable problems. He spun the ball a prodigious amount, although not quickly enough on the slow pitch to be really unplayable.

Although leading by 164, May did not enforce the follow-on and England built an impregnable position. When the third day ended Richardson and Bailey had scored 21 without loss and they carried their stand to 74. Adcock could not play on the fourth day because of a sore toe, and van Ryneveld, although fielding, could not bowl because of a slightly fractured little finger on his right hand.

McGlew endeavoured to keep down runs and did not employ a slip or close fieldsman for either Heine or Goddard, who bowled unchanged throughout the morning and for twenty minutes after lunch. The deep defensive field succeeded in restricting England's rate of progress, but steadily the lead mounted. Compton and Cowdrey again shared a good stand and this time Cowdrey showed his wide range of strokes, scoring 61 of the 87 added in eighty-six minutes.

May declared when Compton gave a return catch in the last over before tea and South Africa were set to get 385 to win in eight hours on a pitch which made quick scoring extremely difficult. Their task was almost hopeless and from the first they decided on defensive tactics in an effort to save the game. Again Wardle was England's trump card. He bowled McGlew round his legs in his second over and quickly followed by getting Keith caught at cover.

South Africa ended the fourth day at 41 for two, and although defeat looked inevitable it came much quicker than expected. Wardle, again making the ball spin considerably, did almost as he pleased and the match ended after ninety minutes on the last day. Four wickets fell at 67 and altogether the remaining eight wickets went down for the addition of 31 runs, South Africa being out for the same total as their second innings in the First Test.

Wardle's seven for 36 were his best Test figures and his beautifully controlled and varied spin left South Africa nonplussed.

The handled ball incident occurred when Endean pushed out his leg outside the off stump to Laker in the second innings. The ball rose high and might well have fallen on to the stumps had not Endean thrown up a hand and diverted it. On appeal the umpire had no option but to give him out. Endean, curiously, was concerned in the previous strange Test dismissal, being the wicket-keeper when Hutton was given out obstructing the field at The Oval in 1951. Endean might have made a catch had not Hutton knocked away the ball when trying to protect his wicket.