Newlands presents SA and England with new psychological trial

Cape Town - Just how much psychological advantage South Africa still have over England as the fourth Test of the Millennium Series starts at Newlands tomorrow depends largely on the ability of the tourists to accept the draw at Kingsmead.

There are a several theories regarding how the tourists are going to hold up after two gruelling days in Durban's humidity and heat should they have to field on day one of a match they need to win to keep the series alive.

Nasser Hussain backed his bowlers to dismiss South Africa a second time in four sessions and polish off what lead they had in terms of runs in the next two if need be. It came after England had their best day of the tour on day three, bowled South Africa out for 156 and enforced the follow on. Andy Caddick was the agent who was going to ambush South Africa a second time with support from Darren Gough and possibly Phil Tufnell.

It did not quite work out that way as the psychological battle shifted ground. The Pom came up against Gary Kirsten, all too eager to prove that the spirit of Hanif Mohammad was alive, well and kicking into the next century. Along the way there a few records were established, which, depending on your point of view, were either relevant or lacked substance. After all, does it really matter whether scoring 211 constitutes a record or 275? That is the esoteric value of a list of statistics and records.

Chris Silverwood was not up to the job, and although Andy Flintoff gave some valuable support (the 'pick of the bowlers' some morning rag claimed, maiming his reputation) England's attack, without Alan Mullally, is still limping from one century to the next without a compass.

A little like the Kingsmead media scoreboard's breakdown of the sundries, which along with Wisden, for some unexplained reason, places wides before no balls. As the no ball is the first action and also ahead of wides in the Laws the explanation has no intrinsic value at all. As is the reason for the term "extras" when it does not exist in the laws. We will leave that for small minds to handle and move on.

If what we saw of the England practice is an indication, Mullally could be back, Michael Vaughan as well. Certainly Vaughan would be a major improvement on Darren Maddy who looked out of his depth as "cover" at Kingsmead. If Vaughan is not quite ready, Mark Ramprakash, (or England's "cover story two") could be pressed into action.

It says much for the confusion surrounding in the England camp if Ramprakash is seriously considered as the alternate to Maddy. At the start of the series much was made of the clash between Allan Donald and Michael Atherton, but with Mornantau Hayward taking his wicket in two of the last three innings, the psychological battleground has shifted. Selection panel convener Rushdie Magiet, talked of the selectors concern over the fitness of Donald and Hayward, blaming their lethargic performance on food poisoning before the Test started on Boxing Day. Inconvenient, perhaps, for South Africa.

There are other areas for concern, though, which surfaced some weeks ago when neither the captain, Hansie Cronje, nor the coach, Graham Ford, were consulted about the final side for Kingsmead. It might have been okay 50 odd years ago when selectors did what they wanted, including telling the captain what batting order to use.

Hopefully the selectors have moved forward with the times and the new century and that their thinking starts showing more positive signs and a philosophy in keeping with their job. Cronje is the captain and as such should be treated with a little more consideration by the selectors. Perhaps in the first year of the century they should start seriously thinking about the image they are projecting.

Who will be left out of the 12 is an interesting poser: there are several cases, but the South Africa are unlikely to go in to the game at Newlands without their six front batsmen. Not after Kingsmead.