The home of cricket, the Lord’s Cricket Ground will play host to the first of four entertaining test matches when the Proteas (South Africa) and the Three Lions (England) lock horns tomorrow.
The performance from the South African cricket team in recent months has been nothing short of woeful.
The test series comes after South Africa, once again found a way to be favourites for an ICC (International Cricket Council) tournament and choke their way out as early as the the group stage.
Before the ICC CHampions Trophy the Proteas and the Lions engaged in three pre-tournament ODI’s.
The Lions slew the Proteas in the first encounter and narrowly won the second match.
The Proteas bowlers came to the party in the third and final showdown and baptised the English team with a superb bowling efforts to gain the victory.
The T20 series was won by the host, England. The Proteas bowlers were put to the sword after their batters failed to make an impact and batted their innings out at a snail’s pace.
They did manage to get a victory in the second affair, but lost the deciding duel.
Now the stage is set and sparks will flying at the Lord’s Cricket Ground. Both teams have in their arsenal some of the best bowlers, batsmen and fielders in cricket.
There will be no Phalaborwa Express as key Proteas bowler Dale Steyn misses out due to injury.
No to worry Kagiso Rabada, Vernon Philander and company know well enough how to rearrange the wickets.
England will call on new test captain Joe Root to lead the Lions all the way to the promise land.
Not to mention they have Ben Stokes who with bat and ball is quality personified.
There is also Moeen Ali who can bewitch batsmen with his spin bowling.
Both teams are renowned for their fielding, their fielders leap up gracefully and pluck balls out of the air and they have rocket-like hands when returning the ball to the wicketkeeper.
So the batsmen on both team know just how careful they have to be when batting.
South Africa will be without their inspirational leader Faf Du Plessis who went back for the birth of his first child.
The Proteas will call on the the fighting spirit of Dean Elgar to take the reigns and hope fully lead the team to victory in the first encounter.
Whenever these two meet in test matches it is nothing short of classic.
That memorable 300 at the Oval in 2012 by Proteas batsmen Hashim Amla and Makhaya Ntini’s ticket wicket haul at Lord’s in 2003 is a testament to history made in these two nations lock horns.
