Both team captains reached individual milestones whenEngland played South Africa at Lord’s in a five-day match that began onThursday to determine the No. 1 test team in the world. Graeme Smith of SouthAfrica lead a test team for the 94th time, overtaking the record set by AllanBorder of Australia from 1984 to 1994. Andrew Strauss of England played his100th test match, the ninth Englishman to reach that mark.
South Africa leads the three-match series, 1-0, after maulingEngland in the first match at The Oval in London. The second match, inHeadingley, Leeds, was a draw. Another draw would be enough for South Africa tooverthrow England at the top of the rankings. Smith promised after theHeadingley match that South Africa, historically prone to defensiveness, wouldnot be playing for a draw at Lord’s. He said his decision to declare SouthAfrica’s innings closed on the last day at Headingley, taking a marginal riskof defeat, was evidence of this outlook.
South Africa has continued to find ways of defeating itselfin international tournaments, but to become unquestionably the top team in thefive-day game, and to clinch that title on the previous champion’s own turf,would be considerable compensation.
Smith has a fair amount in common with Strauss. They areboth left-handed opening batsmen noted more for efficiency than elegance. Theywere born in the same city, Johannesburg. Each is more percentage-player thanrisk-taker as a leader. But where Strauss is habitually calm and understated,Smith has tended to wear his heart on a bulging, muscular sleeve. His nickname,“Biff,” and a record of disputes with opponents “ Australians, unsurprisingly,figure prominently “ testify to that. Strauss said the recent falling out betweenPietersen and England’s management, had “been a bit of a surprise to me.” “Overthe last week I have had to get involved, because there have been issues alittle bit more central to his relationship with the other players and ourability to perform out in the middle,” he said
Staying at the top, and keeping that unified spirit, will behis and England’s challenge over the next five days.
