Twenty years and 197 five-day test matches after itspost-apartheid readmission to international cricket, South Africa at laststands at the summit of the world game.
Victory by 51 runs over England on Monday at Lords, thehistoric home of cricket, gave the Proteas a 2-0 series victory and took themto the top of the official world rankings in place of their host. England fallsback after 364 days and 11 matches at the top.
South Africa has been No.1 before, but under strange andunsatisfying circumstances. It went to the top by default in 2009 when a defeatreduced Australia’s rating under the complex formula used to calculate therankings. But South Africa never played as No.1, losing its place to theupwardly mobile India before its next match. It then lost at home to Australiawhen it needed only a drawn series to recapture the top place.
South Africa’s team reflects how the country has changedover those 20 years. Five of the 11 men who won at Lord’s would not have beenallowed to play for their country before 1992. Two in particular played vitalroles at Lord’s: fast-medium bowler Vernon Philander and batsman Hashim Amla. Philander,who had already made valuable runs, was England’s executioner with five wicketsas it chased 346.
The odds favored South Africa once Philander had beheadedits top order, reducing it to 34 for 3. Amla lready possesses its most dexterouswrists after the retirement of V V S. Laxman of India. He now has a strongclaim to be its pre-eminent active batsman.
This was also a triumph for Smith and for the coach, GaryKirsten. England, though, can have no complaint. South Africa has been itssuperior in all elements of the game. The dropping of nine catches during theseries was a particular drop from England’s high standards. Its bright spot atLord’s was Jonathan Bairstow, a rookie who top-scored in its first innings with95 then began the counterattack on the final afternoon with a rapid 54. Strausssaid: “We’ve all known that he’s a young cricketer of great talent. This showedhe has the character to go with that talent.”
