The Hindu : Sport : Strauss scores century

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Dec 19, 2004

Sport

Sport

Strauss scores century

By Ted Corbett

PORT ELIZABETH, DEC. 18. Dale Steyn, a 21-year-old fast bowler making his debut caused a sensation on the second day of the first Test by scattering the stumps of England's experienced opening batsman Marcus Trescothick with a ball of 87 miles an hour, but England still managed to lay a foundation for victory and brutally expose the weaknesses in South Africa's attack.

Trescothick passed 4,000 Test runs on his way to 47 out of the opening stand of 152 but his partner Andrew Strauss stayed to complete his third century in his eighth Test with a series of deft shots. It was exactly the innings England needed when South Africa was bowled out before lunch.

With almost four days remaining, a favourable weather forecast and plenty of batting in hand, all the signs show another England success. Eight in a row for the team; eight in his first eight Tests for Strauss, the first England batsman to score debut hundreds in his first Tests home and away since Kumar Sri Ranjitsingh 108 years ago.

In many ways Strauss has been the main reason for England's recent run of success. He bats cheerfully, rides his luck and after two centuries on his home ground at Lord's proved today that he could make runs anywhere. He took four hours to reach his hundred with 13 fours but the free hitters can have their way tomorrow when they ought to run up a winning total.

On a pitch that seemed to lose life force by the hour England needed 90 minutes to wrench out three more batsmen while South Africa went from 273 for seven to an all out total of 337. It was not until Makhaya Ntini — and later Steyn — began to bowl that we saw how much lift there was in this dull pitch.

Dippenaar completes century

After an hour Boeta Dippenaar reached his century, a triumph of steely concentration while all around him were losing their focus too often. He played and missed, produced 17 boundaries and appeared to be enjoying his battle when, quite unexpectedly, he edged a ball from Simon Jones to slip for 110. "Brave, battling innings" said the ground announcer and there was no denying that; but by then it was clear that South Africa could not reach 350. Thami Tsolekile, the new wicket-keeper and a controversial choice ahead of the Test hardened Mark Boucher, batted with confidence for an hour before he was caught off Ashley Giles and the new fast bowler Dale Steyn hit a six before he too went to Giles, at last reaping some reward for his defensive role.

The game continued in its soporific way when England's openers Marcus Trescothick and Andrew Strauss trudged to 152. It woke briefly when Steyn bowled his first over, the 13th of the day, which included two balls of more than 90 miles an hour and caused Trescothick to furrow his brow and hurry his shot. But by his fourth over Steyn was back to 84 miles an hour, a smattering of no-balls and causing neither batsmen any trouble.

Trescothick reaches 4000-run mark

At 19, Trescothick reached 4,000 Test runs although he looked nothing like so sure of his touch as you might expect of a batsman who has been central to England's success in 55 Tests. You can always tell when Trescothick is out of touch; he finds dust to kick out of his crease that no-one else notices.

Once Strauss had recovered from a streaky first over against Ntini - he edged a four and the strap on his helmet broke as four flew off his shoulder - he seemed completely at home in the land of his birth. He went to his sixth Test score above fifty in less than two hours with eight fours; meanwhile Trescothick was just 25. He hit the boundary through cover that brought up the century stand, a reminder to South Africa that there was a way to an eighth successive victory from a huge first innings score. By the 26th over Graeme Smith had used all five medium pace bowlers, from the seasoned Shaun Pollock to the part timer Zander de Bruyn and done nothing to suggest that his side could bowl a team out twice in a Test.

England was 109 without loss at tea and soon afterwards the South African bowlers had sent down three overs of no-balls, another sign of a struggling team. Steyn came back to bowl Trescothick who was late on his shot and give an exhibition of air punches that in many ways symbolised South Africa's limited attack.

At the close England was 227 for the loss of Trescothick with Strauss on 120 and ready to clinch the game for England tomorrow.

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