Champions plastered by South Africa

The Oval Test was only the sixth Test match defeat at home for England since July 2007, with three of them coming at the hands of the South Africans. The last time England lost at home by an innings was against the Australians in the summer of 2009.

LONDON, ENGLAND – JULY 22: Hashim Amla of South Africa hits out during day 4 of the 1st Investec Test Match between England and South Africa at The Kia Oval on July 22, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Tom Shaw/Getty Images)

The margin of defeat was an innings and 80 runs. Yesterday at the Oval, England was trounced by an innings and 12 runs. But the margin does not reflect the plastering inflicted upon the Test cricket champions by the South Africans.Last summer England achieved numero uno status, displacing India with disdain. The series was called a no-contest. England have since looked head and shoulders above all visitors to their shores – Sri Lanka, West Indies, Australia. This series against South Africa was billed as the ultimate contest – the top team versus the top contender.

If the Oval Test is anything to go by, the hunters are now the hunted – in their own backyard.

The true margin of defeat at the Oval was 2 South African wickets against England’s 20. It doesn’t get more one-sided than that, does it? It was the 5-day express version of a whitewash. Where are the clouds when you need them? And why was the series opener not played at Lord’s?

The Proteas landed on the shores after a training camp in the Swiss Alps, and played only two warm-up games before the Test match. At the end of day one, England were sitting pretty. The curators had produced a bald brown track, obviously to keep Steyn, Morkel, Philander and Kallis at bay. Strauss won the toss, elected to bat and England finished the day on 267/3. Cook was unbeaten on 114, having completed his 20th Test century, and looking good enough to go bigger. A big first innings score was on the cards and normal service was expected to continue. There was talk of the South Africans being a bit “ under-cooked”.

The first session of the second day changed all that. The South African bowlers came to the party. England lost the last 7 first innings wickets for a paltry 118 runs, and were bundled out for 385. Morkel was the pick of the bowlers, accounting for four English wickets. That brought the determined South African skipper Graeme Smith to the pitch, who lost his opening partner straight away. And for a while, 385 looked like a par score. What followed in the next couple of days is what dreams, or nightmares, are made of! Two massive partnerships – the first between Amla and Smith, and the second undefeated one between Amla and Kallis – took South Africa to 637 for the loss of just two wickets. 252 ahead on the first innings tally, but miles ahead in terms of morale. Smith mercifully declared the innings closed at tea on the fourth day, leaving England four sessions to play out to save the game.

This Test match will be remembered for several records, but mostly for the unbeaten 13-hour vigil at the crease by Amla. The calm and modest South African, of Indian decent, became the top test scorer for his country. He was unconquered on 311 when the declaration came. The record of Brian Charles Lara of 400 not out seemed within reach, such was the mastery of Amla at the crease. Smith delivered yet another big innings against the English, with a determined 131 in his 100th test appearance, while King Kallis produced a flawless 43rd test century, remaining unbeaten on 182.

The English bowling attack was out of ideas, working on containing the South Africans (employing a seven-two field at one point), playing attritional cricket rather than attacking. The swing and seam movement had dried up, the pitch was flat and the sun was out.

However all that changed in the second innings! With England 252 adrift, the ball started to move laterally in the hands of the South Africans. By the end of day four they had already accounted for four English wickets, including the two most stubborn, Cook and Trott. The fifth day was further testament to the attacking bowling from the South Africans, as Steyn moved the ball both ways, as did Philander. The rough helped Tahir, and Morkel was intent on increasing the pressure. The end came swiftly with the second new ball, with one session to spare in the match.

The England bowling attack had worked much better in the UAE against Pakistan, and then in Sri Lanka, in conditions where they did not expect any help from the pitches. Here, Broad seemed to be over-pitching far too often, searching for swing but with little effect. Swann bowled long spells, often hitting the track harder, but was unable to extract enough spin and bounce. Anderson and Bresnan worked hard but could not deliver the goods. Bopara was probably the only one who caused a few problems – with the ball. The holding game didn’t work for England. The sub-continental pitch didn’t work either.

The South Africans were relentless in the game, with ball and bat, after an average first day. They played with AB De Villiers as the make-shift wicket-keeper in the absence of the retired Mark Boucher, and needed to use only four batsmen, while all the damage with the ball was done by their four main bowlers in short sharp spells.

The crown is looking slippery tonight. England will come back stronger in the next two Tests. They will not roll over, not at home. This series is very much on. What remains to be seen are the tactics, the team mix and the pitch conditions that the home team comes back with.

The Olympics will be a distraction, so stay tuned in! It’s not over yet.