Ian ConstantineEngland's Expectations High for Final Test
January 14th 2010 05:43
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Cricket: England in South Africa
An Unexpected Series Victory in South Africa Beckons
So it all comes down to this... the fourth and final test at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg where South Africa must win just to square an evenly matched home series with England. Although their escapes at Centurion and Cape Town were of the narrowest of margins, if England prevail in this Test they will rightly return home with a well earned but unexpected series triumph.
There are few more daunting venues for touring teams than the Wanderers - known as the 'Bullring' because of its intimidating atmosphere. Add the prospect of a greenish surface and an opposition with a "do-or-die" attitude and the stage is set for an intense battle over the next few days.
England have no reason to be fearful of the Wanderers as their record in three visits since South Africa's readmission to Test cricket is encouraging. From Michael Atherton's epic 185 not out to save the Test in 1995 through to Matthew Hoggard's 12-wicket haul in 2004-05 their record stands at one draw, one defeat and one win - with each Test as memorable as the next.
It seems certain that this contest will finish with a positive result. It is desperation time for South Africa who were recently ranked as the No. 1 Test nation but now face the prospect of back-to-back home series defeats... Australia last year and now England. Altogether it is too much of an humiliating prospect for a proud sporting nation to face.
England now stand on the brink of an achievement that would match or even surpass their 2009 Ashes success. If they avoid defeat over five more days of intense scrutiny in the Johannesburg highveld atmosphere then Andrew Strauss's England can truly claim to have scaled new heights in the Test arena.
England in South Africa
So it all comes down to this... the fourth and final test at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg where South Africa must win just to square an evenly matched home series with England. Although their escapes at Centurion and Cape Town were of the narrowest of margins, if England prevail in this Test they will rightly return home with a well earned but unexpected series triumph.
Johannesburg Wanderers Stadium
There are few more daunting venues for touring teams than the Wanderers - known as the 'Bullring' because of its intimidating atmosphere. Add the prospect of a greenish surface and an opposition with a "do-or-die" attitude and the stage is set for an intense battle over the next few days.
England have no reason to be fearful of the Wanderers as their record in three visits since South Africa's readmission to Test cricket is encouraging. From Michael Atherton's epic 185 not out to save the Test in 1995 through to Matthew Hoggard's 12-wicket haul in 2004-05 their record stands at one draw, one defeat and one win - with each Test as memorable as the next.
It seems certain that this contest will finish with a positive result. It is desperation time for South Africa who were recently ranked as the No. 1 Test nation but now face the prospect of back-to-back home series defeats... Australia last year and now England. Altogether it is too much of an humiliating prospect for a proud sporting nation to face.
England now stand on the brink of an achievement that would match or even surpass their 2009 Ashes success. If they avoid defeat over five more days of intense scrutiny in the Johannesburg highveld atmosphere then Andrew Strauss's England can truly claim to have scaled new heights in the Test arena.
England Captain Andrew Strauss
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