Are South Africa really playing "away" when they face England this summer?

Test previews / Ed Hawkins / 01 July 2008 / Leave a Comment

The Hawkeye View - Ed Hawkins looks at South Africa's recent record on English shores and who may be scoring the runs for them this summer.

There are more South Africans playing county cricket than any other foreign nationality, trade between Britain and the former colony - South Africa only achieved independence in the 1960s - remains solid and Nelson Mandela even held his birthday bash here. Can the four-Test series between England and South Africa, which starts next Thursday at Lord's, really be described as an away tour for the Proteas?

To push the envelope further, the last man to captain an England cricket team was technically a South African. Come on, KP, we're not convinced by all your patriotic musings.

It rather puts into perspective any assertion by punters who are basing their argument for backing England at [3.00] on the fact that this is a difficult place to come for opposition sides. Only India have won on these shores since 2002.

Sure, England are likely to be tough to beat but South Africa, who are [2.20] with the draw [4.20], have nothing to fear.

Normally visiting teams are undone by the swinging ball but the ball bends in South Africa, too which explains why Graeme Smith's men have a good record in England.

Since South Africa were allowed back into the international sporting family, they have played three series in England. And although they have not won any, they have drawn two which proves they are capable of justifying their odds.

In 1994 a powerful South Africa side - after 29 years of exile - were held 1-1. They won the first Test at Lord's in emotional and dramatic circumstances. They bowled England out for 99 in the fourth innings in a match which will also be remembered as the 'Dirt in the pocket affair', when Michael Atherton was accused of ball tampering.

In 1998 South Africa were one up with two play but lost the final two Tests and in 2003 - a memorable series for the way it ebbed and flowed - all they had to do for glory was avoid defeat at The Oval in the last Test.

They didn't do it, however. It was a particularly galling loss because the Proteas posted 484 in the first innings and given what had gone on in the previous two series, they left with a reputation as a side who were unable to keep their foot on the throat of an opponent.
That has to be a concern again, although their bowling attack looks to be one of the quickest that any side, let alone South Africa, has turned up with since West India tyros Walsh and Ambrose's final visit in 2000.

Dale Steyn, ranked the best fast bowler in the world, Makhaya Ntini and the lightning More Morkel form a potent attack. And with Andre Nel waiting in the wings in case one of those breaks down, there could be no respite for England. Indeed Ntini was South Africa's top wicket-taker on that 2003 tour with 23 victims, outbowling Shaun Pollock. At [2.00] he could be one to watch in a burgeoning top South Africa bowler market.

Another South African who appears to have spectacular form in England is Graeme Smith. The word appears is deliberate, too. The skipper burst onto the scene on that last tour with 277 at Edgbaston in the drawn first Test and followed it up with 259 in the next one at Headquarters. So brutal was that innings in Birmingham that Nasser Hussain thought he had lost the dressing room and stood down as England captain.

However, since those two Tests, Smith's form has not been anywhere near as good against England. Here are his scores since then: 35, 5, 2, 14, 18,19, 0, 55, 9, 5, 74, 2, 29, 67*, 25, 3.
Smith is [2.50] joint favourite with Jacques Kallis for top South Africa batsman. Unlike Smith Kallis does not have great memories of England, scoring just 188 runs last time. That was most likely a blip, however, and along with his countrymen, England could be a home from home.