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KP, Trott combine as England steals a draw
Source: Agencies |
December 22, 2009, Tuesday
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ENGLAND captain Andrew Strauss praised the 'outstanding' partnership between Kevin Pietersen and Jonathan Trott which helped the side draw the first test against South Africa in Centurion on Sunday.
The pair made 145 for the fourth wicket before Pietersen (81) ran himself out after tea which very nearly soured England's day.
Pietersen, who was aggressive throughout, collecting 11 fours and produced some breathtaking drives off the front foot, survived an LBW when the umpire called the delivery from Friedel de Wet a no-ball.
But he was run out in the second over after tea after nudging the ball into the off side and setting off while Trott stayed out at the non-striker's end.
"KP (Pietersen) and Jonathan made it look easy, they played exceptionally well and the way they constructed their partnership was excellent, they each stuck to their own game plan," Strauss said.
"Those misunderstandings do happen in cricket, it's a shame, but I certainly won't be blaming anyone. I'd rather focus on their outstanding partnership in a pressure situation, they showed something special out there today," he said.
England, set 364 for victory, ended the first test on 228 for nine with the last pair of Paul Collingwood and Graham Onions survived for 3.1 overs after a dramatic collapse in which five wickets were lost for 13 runs.
"It was very important for us to get out of here with a draw, a loss would have hurt us badly. But we will be in good shape going into Durban, we're a confident group and nothing that's happened here will knock us," Strauss said.
The England captain put his team's collapse - Ian Bell, Matt Prior, Stuart Broad and Graeme Swann scored just four runs between them - down to the vagaries of the second new ball.
"It was a new-ball pitch and the new ball misbehaved throughout the test. You have to be phlegmatic about it, some of the batsmen got some pretty good balls," Strauss said.
Debutant fast bowler Friedel de Wet took three for 11 in seven overs in a top-class display with the second new ball, but South Africa captain Graeme Smith entrusted Makhaya Ntini, playing his 100th test, with the final over.
"Friedel was on his knees and he had been for two overs. He was completely out of puff," Smith explained. "It was frustrating not to win, but I'm not going to lose any sleep over it. I never thought England could win the test and we played the better cricket throughout."
The pair made 145 for the fourth wicket before Pietersen (81) ran himself out after tea which very nearly soured England's day.
Pietersen, who was aggressive throughout, collecting 11 fours and produced some breathtaking drives off the front foot, survived an LBW when the umpire called the delivery from Friedel de Wet a no-ball.
But he was run out in the second over after tea after nudging the ball into the off side and setting off while Trott stayed out at the non-striker's end.
"KP (Pietersen) and Jonathan made it look easy, they played exceptionally well and the way they constructed their partnership was excellent, they each stuck to their own game plan," Strauss said.
"Those misunderstandings do happen in cricket, it's a shame, but I certainly won't be blaming anyone. I'd rather focus on their outstanding partnership in a pressure situation, they showed something special out there today," he said.
England, set 364 for victory, ended the first test on 228 for nine with the last pair of Paul Collingwood and Graham Onions survived for 3.1 overs after a dramatic collapse in which five wickets were lost for 13 runs.
"It was very important for us to get out of here with a draw, a loss would have hurt us badly. But we will be in good shape going into Durban, we're a confident group and nothing that's happened here will knock us," Strauss said.
The England captain put his team's collapse - Ian Bell, Matt Prior, Stuart Broad and Graeme Swann scored just four runs between them - down to the vagaries of the second new ball.
"It was a new-ball pitch and the new ball misbehaved throughout the test. You have to be phlegmatic about it, some of the batsmen got some pretty good balls," Strauss said.
Debutant fast bowler Friedel de Wet took three for 11 in seven overs in a top-class display with the second new ball, but South Africa captain Graeme Smith entrusted Makhaya Ntini, playing his 100th test, with the final over.
"Friedel was on his knees and he had been for two overs. He was completely out of puff," Smith explained. "It was frustrating not to win, but I'm not going to lose any sleep over it. I never thought England could win the test and we played the better cricket throughout."
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