England crash to South Africa pace
South Africa’s fast bowlers took advantage of helpful conditions as
England crashed to 180 all out on the first day of the fourth and final
Test at the Wanderers Stadium on Thursday.
Dale Steyn took five for 51 and Morne Morkel three for 39 after
England captain Andrew Strauss won the toss and decided to bat.
England’s troubles started with the first ball of the match when
Strauss was caught at backward short leg off Steyn.
The tourists, leading the series 1-0, lost their first four wickets
for 39 runs inside the first hour. Paul Collingwood (47) and Ian Bell
(35) put on 76 for the fifth wicket but when Collingwood provided a
first Test wicket for Ryan McLaren soon after lunch the slide resumed
and England were bowled out shortly before tea.
Strauss chose to bat first in conditions which offered swing and seam
movement. He turned a lifting delivery on leg stump firmly behind square
leg but Hashim Amla dived to his right to hold an excellent catch.
Morkel followed up in the second over when Jonathan Trott played
across a full delivery and was out leg before wicket. Kevin Pietersen’s
run of poor scores continued when he pulled Morkel straight to new cap
Wayne Parnell at mid-on after making seven.
Alastair Cook went back on his stumps and was a second leg before
victim. He asked for a review but umpire Tony Hill’s decision was
upheld.
Collingwood looked in good form before he was squared up by new cap
McLaren and caught at point off a leading edge.
Steyn bowled Bell with a delivery which cut back between bat and pad
after a series of away-swingers and England’s resistance was effectively
broken, although Graeme Swann made a breezy 27 off 27 balls before he
was the last man out.
England surprisingly left out fast bowler Graham Onions, bringing in
left-arm swing bowler Ryan Sidebottom.
Onions was one of England’s most impressive bowlers in the first
three Tests, despite taking only eight wickets at an average of 45.75,
and as a number eleven batsman twice played out the last over to secure
a draw for his team, in the first and third Tests. JOHANNESBURGE, AFP
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