England beat South Africa by 211 runs in the first Test at Lords and the two teams have a quick turnaround for the start of the second Test this Friday at Trent Bridge in Nottingham
At Lords Moeen Ali became the first England player to score a fifty and take a ten-for in a Test since 1980 and was Man of the Match.I doing so he became the second quickest England all-rounder to take 100 wickets and 2,000 runs, in 38 tests
This was the 3rd Test since 1975 in which England\’s spinners have taken 14 or more wickets (14 v Sri Lanka, Colombo 1981-82; 19 v India, Mumbai 2012-13) and the first home test they have done so since 1972.
On a dry pitch in a hot summer winning the toss and batting was a crucial differentiator. Once the pitch began to wear on day 4, both teams scoring 200 runs fewer in the second innings than the first tells you this Test Match was more about the toss than anything else. Seventeen wickets fell on the final day’s play
That said there is no doubt that currently, England are the stronger team. Cook, Root, Stokes, Broad and Anderson are all world class players and form the core of the team. Tat is not to say that England don’t have issues, and these primarily come at the topof the batting order In England’s last 57 Test innings they have been three wickets down for 55 runs or fewer 21 times, 38% of the time. They get away with this because they bat deep but it is still a major reason for a mixed recent test record.
South Africa went into the series missing De Villiers, Steyn and Du Plessis with their captain Du Plessis expected back for the second test. However their key fast bowler
Kagiso Rabada will be suspended for the second Test after a code of conduct breach. For a side without much depth in test match quality this is a big blow and the side is very dependent on their “stars” to perform notably Amla, DeKock and Philander.
Trent Bridge is likely to be another ground where, in hot weather and on a dry pitch, winning the toss and batting will be key. Odds for the second test have changed markedly. England went off Even money at Lords and with green listed bookmakers Bet365 are 8/15 for this game, with South Africa out to 11/2.
Whilst of course much of the value in the price before the first test has gone, England should win again here and should be supported with Bet365.
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