England v South Africa - Second Test

Trent Bridge, Nottingham

England: JB Hobbs, *L Hutton, PBH May, WR Hammond, GP Thorpe, IT Botham, +LEG Ames, FS Trueman, AV Bedser, DL Underwood, JB Statham.
South Africa: BA Richards, TL Goddard, *WJ Cronje, RG Pollock, DJ Cullinan, JN Rhodes, +DT Lindsay, MJ Procter, NBF Mann, AA Donald, NAT Adcock.

Debuts: Nil
Umpires: AR Crafter (AUS) & BL Aldridge (NZL)
Toss: England

It is often said that the hallmark of true champions is the ability to perform under pressure, and after three poor displays in succession England responded magnificently at Trent Bridge. Len Hutton won an important toss and elected to bat on a slow, low pitch, but at 196-5 on the first evening the innings could have easily fallen away, especially given the length of England's tail. Hobbs, May and, at last, Hammond had all made useful contributions only to depart when set, and it was now down to Les Ames to play the saver of lost causes role yet again. Graham Thorpe, in just his second Test, was still at the wicket when Ames came out, and it would take South Africa almost an entire day to prise the pair apart as they put together a stand of 214 runs, the second highest partnership for the sixth wicket in ATG history.

Ames was finally out just four short of a deserved century, but by this time the tourists' resolve had been all but broken, a state of affairs which was reflected in their fielding. In all, the South Africans shelled five catches over the course of the innings, the most crucial of which was Lindsay's fumbling of a regulation catch off the bowling of Cronje that would have dismissed Thorpe for 22. Lindsay's keeping was not up to scratch for the majority of the innings, and that particular miss was punished to the tune of 126 additional runs as Thorpe ground his way to a maiden hundred. It was not a thing of beauty, but Thorpe's eight and a half hour occupation of the crease had provided England with a solid foundation in the match, and it was now down to the bowlers to build on that foundation.

And build on it they did, bundling out the tourists for just 217 on the third day and allowing Hutton the luxury of enforcing the follow-on with a lead of some 267 runs. Richards and Goddard had given the Proteas a solid start with a 58 run opening stand, but the recalled Bedser unlocked the door by dismissing both Richards and Cronje then Underwood kicked it down as he ran through the middle order to leave the innings fatally compromised. Pollock, with his fifth consecutive knock of fifty or above, and Procter, with a fighting, undefeated 41, provided the only real resistance, and by the third evening South Africa were batting again and facing a real uphill struggle.

England's bowlers now had the bit between their teeth, and it was more of the same on the fourth day as South Africa's second innings became something of a procession. The tourists' batsmen all made starts but none could punch their way out of the twenties, with Jonty Rhodes' 28 providing the highest score as wickets tumbled at regular intervals. Trueman bowled with fire to claim three wickets, and Botham mopped up the tail with a four wicket haul that ended the innings with just 179 on the board, giving England victory by an innings with more than a day to spare and handing Hansie Cronje his first defeat as South African captain. The tables had been well and truly turned after the tourists' comprehensive victory at Lord's, and with the score now standing at 1-1, the stage seems set for what should be an even more competitive second half to the series.

1st innings scorecards (click to enlarge)

2nd innings scorecards (click to enlarge)

Scores
ENG 1st Inns 484-9 dec. (Thorpe 148, Ames 96, Hammond 69, Hobbs 56, May 44)
SAF 1st Inns 217 (Pollock 54, Procter 41*; Underwood 4-43)
SAF 2nd Inns 179 (Botham 4-33)

ENGLAND WON BY AN INNINGS & 88 RUNS


Man of the Match: GP Thorpe