England play risky game by revealing tactics to South Africa

Belt the spinner, bump the tail and keep it accurate against a jittery middle order seem to be England’s plans for South Africa in the first Test which begins tomorrow at Lord’s.

That was certainly the instruction the head coach Brendon McCullum gave to the England Lions team who, following orders, proceeded to soften South Africa up for Ben Stokes’ side with an innings win at Canterbury.

Most cricket teams don’t telegraph their tactics to the opposition and this is certainly a departure for England. As Muhammad Ali might have said to an opponent, ‘I am gonna knock you out in the fifth, and that won’t need no amendment’.

By revealing their intentions to South Africa, a team currently atop the World Test Championship table, England are signalling they are coming for them bats and hackles raised. It is the psychology of expectation and they are hoping it forces their opponents to rethink the plans which have seen them win five of their last seven Tests.

Most striking was the Lions’ assault on South Africa’s left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj, who leaked runs at almost eight an over. Maharaj has been central to recent successes, not just the 20 wickets he has taken over his last three Tests but the 20 overs he has averaged per innings at a cost of just 2.41 runs per over.

That low run-rate, and the amount of overs bowled, has allowed South Africa’s pace bowlers, their main threat, to remain fresh and operate more effectively. But now doubt has been cast – given the England batsmen’s adoption of ultra-aggressive ‘Bazball’ – whether Maharaj can be relied on to do that.

In turn, this will make them question whether they can afford to risk playing Kagiso Rabada, their most experienced fast bowler, given his recent ankle problems.

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