England in strong position after first day of second Test against South Africa

25.08.2022 - 23:39 thenationalnews.com

England hounded out South Africa for just 151 on day one of the second Test, before an unusually stoic Zak Crawley helped them finish in a strong position at Emirates Old Trafford.

Despite skittling England cheaply twice in their innings victory at Lord’s, visiting captain Dean Elgar spurned the chance to send them in on a murky morning in Manchester.

The Proteas paid the price for that decision, knocked over inside 54 overs as James Anderson and Stuart Broad took three wickets apiece in helpful conditions.

England suffered top-order setbacks of their own, but the under-pressure Crawley, whose place has come under increasing scrutiny over the summer, played against type to help his side to reach stumps just 40 behind on 111-3.

cricket Test second test James Anderson Stuart Broad Zak Crawley Jonny Bairstow Manchester South Africa

Zak Crawley helped steer England to victory against South Africa in the third Test at The Oval on Monday morning.

Zak Crawley, Alex Lees propel England towards victory in third Test against South Africa

Both batsmen came into the Test under scrutiny following a poor series, but Crawley raced to 57 from 44 balls with some dominant strokes, and Lees is unbeaten on 32. The latter was dropped off the first ball of the innings by Marco Jansen at fourth slip, a regulation chance from the bowling of Kagiso Rabada, and England used that good fortune to propel themselves towards a series victory.

Zak Crawley guides England to verge of series win against South Africa

When South Africa declined the offer to push back their flight home and extend this third Test by a day, there were concerns – however trifling in the grand scheme of things – that an enticing series decider could well end up a case of what might have been.

3rd Test: England captain Stokes 'excited' to see Brook debut against South Africa

Jonny Bairstow in the series finale against South Africa. Brook is the only change to the England XI that levelled the three-match series with a commanding victory in the second Test at Old Trafford after Bairstow was ruled out with a freak leg injury suffered playing golf.

England Captain Ben Stokes "Excited" To See Harry Brook Debut Against South Africa

England captain Ben Stokes said he was excited by the prospect of Harry Brook's Test debut after confirming the Yorkshire batsman would replace the injured Jonny Bairstow in the series finale against South Africa. Brook is the only change to the England XI that levelled the three-match series with a commanding victory in the second Test at Old Trafford after Bairstow was ruled out with a freak leg injury suffered playing golf. Bairstow has been in stellar form this year, scoring 1,061 runs, including six centuries, in 10 Tests.