Lunch South Africa 56 for 1 (Kuhn 34*, Amla 16*) v England
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Kuhn, Amla justify SA’s batting gamble
James Anderson’s 300th Test wicket in England was a statistical landmark in an otherwise mournful start to the second Investec Test with only 23 overs possible as Trent Bridge endured a morning of blustery winds and occasional rain flurries.
Anderson became the first fast bowler to achieve such a feat when he wangled the wicket of Dean Elgar, drawing him into an insecure drive at a slightly wide one and winning his wicket courtesy of a fine, diving catch to his right by Liam Dawson at backward point. Elgar, who can be a bit of a stodge when conditions are testing, would have berated himself for that.
There was uncertainty for Heino Kuhn, too, who took a blow on the back of the helmet in Mark Wood’s first over. Wood, coming on for the 12th over, unsettled Kuhn from the outset and his fourth delivery beat Kuhn for pace and caused the batsman to turn away and take the blow.
Kuhn ducked the next ball from Wood and then, to alleviate his frustration, crashed Anderson, in the next over, wide of Ben Stokes at gully. Technically, it was an unconvincing retort but emotionally he probably needed it. As for Wood, who is still seeking full pace after his ankle problems the initial signs were encouraging.
Earlier, Kuhn had also taken a blow on the bottom hand from Stuart Broad, discomfort aplenty which was sure to ginger up England’s seamers. Off-side drives against Anderson, off front and back foot, were a decent retort.
On a morning where spectators wrapped themselves in statistics to help keep out the cold, Hashim Amla also had time to pass 8,000 Test runs, brought up with a slick boundary behind square leg against Wood, shortly before rain forced a stoppage.
England were ill-advised to review a rejected lbw appeal against Amla, on 14, two balls after the resumption. He survived courtesy of an inside edge which had not entered the computation of a clearly enthusiastic bowler, Ben Stokes. Amla was outside the line as well, leaving Stokes’ obvious optimism flawed on two counts.
Root, a new captain, looked somewhat biddable as the review fell on stony ground and probably went into lunch wondering whether he needed to impose a stricter process.
It was the sort of morning that suggested England’s seamers might reap a rich harvest, but perhaps it was too cold and blustery for the ball to swing lavishly and the pitch lacked for pace.
South Africa had to withstand an awkward extra 15 minutes after retreating to the dressing room after 18.1 overs, wrongly imagining like many that rain would prevent play until after lunch, but they equipped themselves well and the loss of only one wicket by lunch represented decent damage limitation.
George Dobell is a senior correspondent at ESPNcricinfo
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Source: ESPN Crickinfo