A double strike by England off-spinner Graeme Swann plunged South Africa into trouble on the first day of the third Test at Newlands in Capetown, South Africa, yesterday.
South Africa were 183 for five at tea after being sent in to bat. The host nation appeared to be on the way to recovery after a poor start before Swann took two wickets in two balls to put England firmly in control, with South Africa on 127 for five.
Swann, man of the match in the first two Tests, ended a 76-run third wicket stand between Jacques Kallis and AB de Villiers when he had De Villiers smartly caught at short midwicket by captain Andrew Strauss for 36.
PHOTO: AFP
JP Duminy then suffered his second successive first-ball dismissal when he pushed forward tentatively and edged a catch to wicketkeeper Matt Prior.
Kallis was unbeaten on 55 at tea. He and wicketkeeper Mark Boucher (37 not out) added an unbeaten 56 for the sixth wicket to somewhat restore the balance for the under-pressure Proteas, who trail the four-match series 1-0.
Swann took two for 55 and James Anderson two for 41.
Rain delayed the start of play and Strauss’ decision to bowl first paid an early dividend when Anderson had Ashwell Prince caught behind for nought off the fourth ball of the match.
South Africa could have been two down three balls later when Graeme Smith, on one, edged Graham Onions’ first delivery into the midriff of Swann at second slip.
However, Swann could not hold the chance. Although regular second slip Paul Collingwood was passed fit to play, he was fielding at fine leg to prevent further damage to a dislocated left index finger.
Smith and Hashim Amla put on 45 for the second wicket before Amla was leg before wicket to Graham Onions for 14. Smith made 30 before being caught behind off Anderson off the first ball he faced after lunch. A shortened morning was played under overcast skies, but the sun came out after lunch and Kallis and De Villiers batted brightly, adding 76 runs off 126 balls.
■YOUNG SWANN
REUTERS, LONDON
England off-spinner Graeme Swann’s sparkling form in South Africa contrasts with his tour 10 years ago, when he spent a lot of time drinking, he was quoted as saying yesterday.
“The difference between this current tour and that one is like polar opposites,” the 30-year-old Swann told the Mail on Sunday newspaper. “I would turn up at the next hotel and the first thing I’d find out was where the bar was located. I was young and stupid and I didn’t realize that sometimes you need more than one alarm clock to wake you up.”
Swann did not play a Test match on the 1999-2000 tour and acknowledged he was not good enough in those days.
“At the end of it [then coach] Duncan [Fletcher] sat me down for my tour review and praised me for my ‘tenacious’ attitude in training but I didn’t need to be told ... I was nowhere near good enough, a million miles from playing Test cricket.”
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