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England 227 for 1 (Strauss 120*) trail South Africa 337 (Rudolph 93, Dippenaar 110) by 110 runs
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details

A stroke-filled century from Andrew Strauss put England in control of the first Test at Port Elizabeth. By the close on the second day England had motored to 227 for 1, only 110 adrift after earlier bowling South Africa out for 337.The Johannesburg-born Strauss prospered as the South African bowlers pitched a little too short, feeding his favourite cuts and pulls. There were 13 fours in his century, but only the last one, which took him to three figures, came in the V down the ground. Strauss, who also hit 112 in his first Test, against New Zealand at Lord’s in May, is only the second man to score centuries on his home and away debuts for England: the other was the Indian prince KS Ranjitsinhji, at the end of the 19th century. The only others to do it are Harry Graham, Kepler Wessels and (earlier this year) Michael Clarke for Australia, the West Indian Lawrence Rowe, and Azhar Mahmood of Pakistan.Strauss did the bulk of the scoring in an opening partnership of 152 with Marcus Trescothick, most of it in overcast conditions – the floodlights were powered up for the last half-hour. He has settled so well to international cricket that it was actually a shock to realise that this was his first Test innings overseas. Ominously for South Africa, Strauss’s previous seven Tests, all at home last summer, ended in victory.The last Englishman to look so instantly at home in the Test arena was … Trescothick. He was in subdued mood here, content to let the balls missing the stumps whistle harmlessly past. There were a lot of those from Makhaya Ntini, whose natural line veers away from the left-handers, and rather too many early on from the debutant Dale Steyn, who mixed raw pace (touching 92mph at times) with eight no-balls, and retired, abashed, after his first five overs cost 33.Trescothick posted the hundred partnership – this pair’s third in only eight Tests together – with an uppish but solid cover-drive. That was about as close as South Africa came to taking a wicket before tea, after a nervous pre-lunch spell in which Ntini, in his 50th Test, clattered Strauss on the shoulder (it flew off for four leg-byes), and then had him thick-edging just short of the wicketkeeper and first slip.For the second day running no wickets fell in the afternoon session, but the opening stand was finally broken at 152. Steyn, returning after that chastening opening spell, bent a fast yorker into Trescothick’s middle stump after he had made 47 from 140 balls.The scoring rate then slowed, a combination of the ball softening and Mark Butcher’s desire to play himself in after a disappointing outing in the only warm-up match, against South Africa A. But Strauss’s century lit up the gloom, and put England firmly in the box seat.

Earlier South Africa had done well to add 64 to their overnight 273 for 7. Most of the runs came from Boeta Dippenaar, who made 110 and put on 63 with Thami Tsolekile. Steve Harmison again looked short of a gallop, and after an hour’s play Dippenaar slashed him to third man for his 11th four, to reach his hundred from 228 balls – his third Test century, but his first against England. That was followed by a near-repeat of Jacques Kallis’s dismissal yesterday, as Harmison overpitched an attempted yorker which Dippenaar didn’t seem to pick up – but this time the Harmison range-finder was fractionally off, and the ball sailed past the stumps.The end, when it came, was swift: South Africa’s last three wickets clattered for 13 runs in 19 balls shortly after the first drinks interval. Dippenaar’s long innings finally came to an end when he drove at a widish one from Simon Jones – only his third ball of the day – and edged it straight to Trescothick at slip (324 for 8).Tsolekile, after grafting to 22 from 83 balls, went in the next over, skying an attempted slog off Ashley Giles to be well caught by Andrew Flintoff, running back from slip (327 for 9). Steyn showed some batting aptitude in his first Test innings, unfurling a couple of neat off-drives for singles, then opening his shoulders and belting Giles into the stands at long-on for a satisfying six. Giles had his revenge next ball, though, having Steyn smartly caught bat-pad by Strauss at short leg.Off hared Strauss, to prepare himself for that first innings on overseas soil. The suspicion was that, on a sluggish pitch which is likely to get progressively slower and lower, South Africa’s 337 was some way short of a par score. And England’s fine start has only reinforced that feeling.Steven Lynch is the editor of Cricinfo.

Rod Marsh, the former England selector and Australia wicketkeeper, believes Ricky Ponting’s side should have made changes after the first Test and subsequent decisions were “reactive”. Marsh, the ECB Academy coach, said in the that young players should have been picked early in the series because of their fearlessness.”Bringing Tait in for this game was reactive, not proactive, and after Lord’s they should have got him in,” Marsh said. “You could see that things weren’t right there. Even though Australia won, it was more because England played badly.”Marsh said the best way to get a team back on track was to include fresh faces. “When things aren’t going well you have to bring youth in because the youngsters have a complete lack of fear,” he said.Other problems highlighted by Marsh, who will return to Adelaide at the end of the series, were the lack of an allrounder and a four-man attack. “The key difference between the teams has been England’s ability to play five specialist bowlers,” he said. “Australia have only got four to choose from, which is a policy they have had for a number of years. That is fine when you are playing teams that aren’t that good. But when you are getting a hiding, then it’s hard to compete.”

On Friday, the Zimbabwe selectors will name the team to take on England in five one-day internationals. Steven Price takes a closer look at some players who should make it to the 15-man squad based on perfomances in the Faithwear one-day competition Tatenda Taibu The Zimbabwe skipper scored an unbeaten 121 against Matabeleland in the first match but he is leading a troubled Mashonaland side and that has adversely affected his performances. He has scored only 17 runs in the last two matches but is a class act and should do better.Mark Vermeulen The Matabeleland top-order batsman has finally got his head right and has led by example with scores of 75 against Mashonaland, 91 against Manicaland and 105 against Namibia, giving him an average of 90.33. His form on the international scene had plunged alarmingly and it is good to see him scoring runs. Christopher Mpofu The tall Matabeleland pace bowler has been magnificent in the three matches for his province. He picked up 6 for 42 against Mashonaland in the first game and never looked back – his tally now stands at 11 in the competition. He is surely putting into practice the tips he got from Damien Fleming at the Commonwealth Bank for Excellence in Brisbane where he was attached for a month. Gavin Ewing He only played two Tests for Zimbabwe before the crisis broke out and should be given a chance in the shorter version of the game. He scored 56 not out against Mashonaland, his batting average stands at 93.00, and he has proved effective with his offspin which has gained him five wickets. He can make the team as an allrounder.Brendan Taylor He is part of a troubled Mashonaland side and that has seen him score 66 runs with a high score 52 but is certainly capable of doing better.Kuda Samunderu The youngster has been in good form, from the first game when he scored 43 against Matabeleland, he has an average of 37.00 in the three matches.Stuart Matsikenyeri He has been the outstanding batsman for Manicaland with an average of 69.50 and a high of 80 not out – hopefully he can transform that onto the international scene.Vusumuzi Sibanda In great form for his province with a high score of 64, he is the best in a team of average players with a batting avarage of 45.50. He is another player who has failed to replicate form for his province onto the international scene.Other players who have an outside chance of being picked are the Matabeleland top order trio of Tinashe Hove, Terrence Duffin and Wisdom Siziba and the Midlands bowling trio of Ian Nicholson, Innocent Chinyoka and Hillary Matanga.

North Zone 279 (Dharmani 73, Powar 4-62) and 17 for 1 lead West Zone 172 (Mane 54, Mongia 3-13) by 124 runs
Scorecard
North Zone gained the advantage against West Zone at Dharmasala, and gave themselves a great chance of qualifying for the final at Mohali. After managing to post 279, thanks to a valuable contribution from Sarandeep Singh (42 off 38), the North bowlers did their bit.West were bowled out for a paltry 172, and barring Vinayak Mane, who made a patient 54, none of the others passed 25. Amit Bhandari, the medium-pacer, had a good day with the ball with 3 for 50, while Dinesh Mongia, with his left-arm spin, ended with fine figures of 3 for 13. The North batsmen had to negotiate nine overs before stumps and Aakash Chopra fell early for just 2 as he was bowled by Munaf Patel. However North lead by 124 and held all the aces at the end of the second day.

The Champions Trophy was the brainchild of Jagmohan Dalmiya, who was ICC president in the late 1990s. It had a dual aim of spreading the game to emerging nations and raising money for the ICC in between World Cups, thus enabling it to pump more cash into those fledgling cricket countries.The first tournament, labelled as a mini World Cup, was staged in Dhaka in October 1998 and raised more than £10 million. The second, in Nairobi, was a commercial success although the crowds stayed away. By the time the 2002 event was held – and there was disquiet as it was so close to the World Cup five months later – the idea of playing in developing nations had been ditched (in fairness, options had already been exhausted) and as revenue-generation was the main raison d’etre, it needed to be in one of the main countries as this allowed the format to be expanded.In 2004 the jamboree moved to England and it became clear the format of group games led to too many meaningless games. By the time the 2006 tournament in India came into view, the event was under fire from some quarters, and at one time there were even hints that India might decline to take part in 2008. They did not, but against the rapid growth of Twenty20, the Champions Trophy grew more unloved, other than by the money men, with each passing event.1998-99 Bangladesh
Winners: South Africa
Runners-up: West Indies
No. Countries 9
All matches were played at the Bangabandhu Stadium in Dhaka, but the slow and low pitches produced some poor cricket. Severe flooding threatened to cause the whole show to be moved to India, and it only got the go-ahead at the 11th hour. As it was, Dhaka was the third choice after Disneyworld (Florida) and Sharjah. Some sides were less than enthusiastic about the whole venture – England got dispensation to send a virtual 2nd XI – but that was more than compensated for by massive crowds which flocked to games, even though Bangladesh weren’t invited to their own party. The knock-out format, with eight matches compressed into nine days, fuelled the locals’ excitement. South Africa won by beating West Indies in the final, although Wisden noted that “it was thus a tournament in which the winning really was less important than the taking part.” However, not one journalist from either finalist attended the match.2000-01 Kenya
Winners: New Zealand
Runners-up: India
No. Countries 11
Wisden report | Cricinfo site
The second event included Bangladesh – on the verge of joining the Test-playing countries – and hosts Kenya. The format remained a straight knock-out – and the Nairobi Gymkhana, which had received a million-dollar refurbishment ahead of the event, hosted all games. But unlike Dhaka, local interest was poor and crowds were dismal. “The only sadness was the lack of local interest, and the suggestions of match-fixing that subsequently surfaced in the Anti-Corruption Unit’s report to the ICC,” reported Wisden. “While India’s matches attracted decent numbers of ex-pats, indigenous Kenyans were noticeable by their absence throughout. Critics blamed high ticket prices (up to £20) and excessive bureaucracy. One thing was certain: the tournament should have done more to promote cricket in East Africa.” New Zealand surprisingly beat India in the final, thanks to Chris Cairns’s 102, but it was a one-off success – their next 13 ODIs produced 11 defeats and just one win.2002-03 Sri Lanka
Winners: India/Sri Lanka
No. Countries 12
Wisden report | Cricinfo site
The proximity of the World Cup, less than five months later, poor organisation and a revised format that meant most group matches were all but pointless, took the sheen off the event, and more surprisingly the public stayed away despite low ticket prices. The pitches were slow and low – which was anything but good preparation for South Africa – and with the monsoon looming, the heat and humidity were intense. The ICC also decided to use the tournament to experiment with technology (Pakistan’s Shoaib Malik became the first victim of an lbw decision deferred to the third umpire). While it was useful for lbws (where the only referral was whether the ball pitched outside leg stump) it proved almost useless for disputed catches. The ICC abandoned the trial soon after. Sri Lanka and India only sent full-strength sides after contract disputes were settled at the last minute, but Sri Lanka made it to the final after a popular win over an unpopular Australia. However, they shared the trophy with India when both attempts to finish the final were washed out by tropical storms. “In the end, the two false starts summed up the tournament,” Wisden concluded. “Half-baked and inconclusive.”2004 England
Winners: West Indies
Runners-up: England
No. Countries 12
Wisden report | Cricinfo site
The growing weariness with the event (Wisden described it as “the tournament that veers between being the second most important in world cricket and a ludicrous waste of time”) was unchecked with it being held so late in season that cricket was all but forgotten by the media. The continuation with the format that had been so flawed in Sri Lanka did not help, and the inclusion of the USA – a ragbag of past-its and never-weres – just added to the feeling that this was a pointless exercise. Apart from the final and India’s matches, attendances were again dire. “In keeping with the strained relations between the ICC and the hosts, the ECB, recriminations were muted but inevitable,” wrote Matthew Engel. “It is not easy to apportion blame precisely for this fiasco, but between them the two governing bodies constituted a deadly combination.” Those spectators not put off by high ticket prices, early starts and autumn weather experienced the ICC’s ambush-marketing policing in its full glory as drinks and t-shirts were confiscated. The ridiculous nature of the corporate stranglehold was underlined by the fact that punters could not buy England shirts at club shops because their sponsors – Vodafone – were rivals of one of the official “partners”. The final, which witnessed a remarkable comeback by West Indies to defeat England in almost pitch darkness, offered scant consolation after such a poor competition. “The main memories will be of cold and wet, of organisational disasters,” Wisden concluded, “and of the general sense of a doomed competition that did cricket far more harm than good, all of which was obvious and avoidable.”2006-07 India
Winners: Australia
Runners-up: West Indies
No. Countries 10
Wisden report | Cricinfo site
The fifth edition, held five months before the World Cup, will be best remembered for Australia’s eventual capturing of the one piece of silverware that had previously eluded them. High-priced tickets kept Indian fans away, Diwali season was also a distraction. Un-subcontinental pitches meant there was little cheer for the hosts as well as other teams from the subcontinent. With the termination of the monsoons just prior to the tournament, the pitches had not settled, and provided bounce and lateral movement – something the Australian bowlers, notably Nathan Bracken, Mitchell Johnson and Shane Watson – utilised to the hilt. In a way, the pitches provided more even contests between the bat and ball, as opposed to the batsman v batsman game that ODIs in India were threatening to become. “The one that New Zealand and South Africa played on in Mumbai was a real shocker, with the top coming off at the start of the second innings,” noted . Though USA and Kenya did not feature from the previous tournament, a qualifying round meant the number of matches increased from 15 to 21. The steady performances of Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and West Indies took them to the semi-finals. Events in the lead-up to the final between Australia and West Indies were forgettable at best. “The pitch problems jolted Raj Singh Dungarpur, the chairman of the Cricket Club of India, which owns the ground, so much that he offered to move the final to another venue,” wrote. “The organisers were having none of that, though, and Andy Atkinson, the ICC’s pitches consultant, was drafted in: he used polyvinyl acetate, an industrial adhesive, to bind the pitch together.” Nonetheless, Australia’s took the crown in style, winning by eight wickets under the D/L method. “Damien Martyn, who had batted so beautifully in the victories over England and India, once again played his part with a classy unbeaten 47, but it was Watson who ensured that the reserve day would not be needed as Australia’s travelling support celebrated yet another triumph.” A perfect shot in the arm before the Ashes, which they would go on to win 5-0.2009-10 South Africa
Winners: Australia
Runners-up: New Zealand
No. Countries 10
Cricinfo site
Originally intended to be played in Pakistan in September 2008 but with several countries expressing major concerns over security there, the ICC was forced to postpone the tournament and then reschedule it a year later in South Africa.While there were few genuinely nail-biting games, the quality of cricket was high and the consensus was that it had helped stem, if not reverse, the slide in the competition’s credibility, although crowds were healthy only at select games; South Africa’s games, the Pakistan-India tie and the Pakistan semi-final.Australia successfully defended their title, beating New Zealand with something to spare in the final; New Zealand had upset the form book by defeating Pakistan in the semi-finals, aided by poor umpiring and dropped catches.2013 England
Winners: India
Runners-up: England
No. Countries 8

Australia’s run of bad luck with injuries seems set to continue, with Jason Gillespie ruling himself an unlikely starter for Australia’s third Test against India, which starts on December 26 at Melbourne. Gillespie strained his right groin and was forced to leave the field on the last day of the Adelaide Test, which India won by four wickets to take a 1-0 lead in the series.”I’m feeling pretty good this morning, and the medical staff are pleased it isn’t too bad, but I’m not holding high hopes of playing at Melbourne,” Gillespie said. “My guess is I’ll be running and just starting to bowl by then, which will be good, but as for the rigours of a five-day match, I’m not sure I’ll be ready for that.” According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Gillespie could realistically be expected to return only for the fourth Test, at Sydney.”I’d obviously be very keen to play,” Gillespie added. “This is a great series to be involved in, and I’d want to play my part. I also felt that Adelaide was the best I’d bowled in Tests for about a year, though the rewards didn’t come my way.” Gillespie finished with match figures of 2 for 128.Talking about the moment when he first felt the injury, Gillespie said: “I hit my delivery stride and felt a twinge in my groin. I was going to try another ball but Stephen [Waugh] said I should go and get it checked.” Gillespie was in his 11th over of the innings.With Glenn McGrath already ruled out for the entire series and Shane Warne still serving a one-year ban, Australia’s bowling attack will be severely depleted if Gillespie is indeed ruled out. The good news is that Brett Lee is all set to return, while Brad Williams’s shoulder injury is expected to heal completely in a week’s time.Australia will name their third-Test squad on December 22.

Centuries from Gloucestershire opener Phil Weston and South African batsman Jonty Rhodes ensured that this Frizzell County Championship Division Two clash went into the fourth day as Hampshire toiled in the hot Sunday sunshine.The visitors still required 95 to make Hampshire bat again overnight and had already lost Craig Spearman and nightwatchman Mike Smith in the process so many thought that the game – and a win for Hampshire – would be wrapped up with a day to spare.However, the West Countrymen knew that they had a good two days to bat out and negotiated the first to close with a lead of 237 and the forecast very possibly on their side for Monday.Weston, carrying on from his steady 39 in the first innings, played patiently alongside Chris Taylor as the pair added 62 for the third wicket which edged them close to lunch. Taylor was snapped up by the persevering Udal, caught Robin Smith at short leg for 31.But this only brought in Rhodes to record his highest score for his adopted county and his highest since his unbeaten 57 against Hampshire at Bristol some six weeks ago. He had not been in the best of forms of late – but made serious amends against a Hampshire attack which was to lose Alan Mullally to a hamstring strain.The injury will see him miss the four-day trip to spinner-friendly Northampton starting on Wednesday.Weston went to his first century for Gloucestershire – he moved from Worcestershire in the closed season – but perished just two balls later when he nibbled an edge to Pothas off Ed Giddins.Gloucestershire were working in good partnerships throughout as Hampshire tried to eke out every wicket on a pitch which seems to have improved in its trustworthiness as the game has progressed.Weston and Rhodes added 96, Rhodes and Windows 75, Rhodes’ stand with Gidman and Harvey both realised 31 while his partnership with Ball posted 27. It was hard work for Hampshire’s bowlers in dislodging the resistance.But it was Rhodes with a delightful innings of 134 not out, coming from 251 balls and including 12 fours and three sixes – one of which, off Giddins, took some seven minutes for the ball to be found!The needless run out of wicket-keeper Stephen Pope helped Hampshire finish off the day on a high, but chasing down approximately 250 will be a challenge on a wicket which could be freshened up a bit by some forecast heavy overnight rain and thunder.

Despite his success in picking up five wickets during South Africa’s famous victory at Lord’s, Andrew Hall has been given special permission to play for Worcestershire in their C&G Trophy semi-final against Lancashire on Saturday.Hall played an important part in South Africa’s one-day squad, but signed for Worcestershire after he had originally been left out of the Test side. But when Jacques Kallis was ruled out of the second Test following the death of his father, Hall was drafted in and proved an immediate success.South Africa were initially reluctant to allow Hall to play in the match against Lancashire, but they had a change of heart after being contacted by Worcestershire’s director of cricket Tom Moody.”Tom Moody has spoken with our coach Eric Simons and they have agreed on that position as regards Hall," said a South Africa spokesman. “We’re going to release him for Saturday’s game. He will be available to play for Worcestershire in their semi-final."”It’s great news for us," said Moody. "It means we can go into the game with Lancashire at full strength. I would like to thank South Africa for their help in this matter.”

Saturday’s match will be the 14th one-day international at the Lal Bahadur Shastri Stadium in Hyderabad. Like at Bangalore, India have an enviable record here, winning five matches and losing just one (one match was washed out). New Zealand haven’t had as much to celebrate: just one win – against Zimbabwe in a 1987 World Cup match remembered more for Dave Houghton’s exploits than for anything New Zealand did – and two defeats, against Sri Lanka and India.

There’s been plenty of talk about conditions not being equal for both teams in many matches in the TVS Cup, but past record suggests that the team batting first will have as much chance as the team chasing: in 12 decisive matches here, the team batting first has won six and lost as many, while the win-loss record for the team winning the toss is 6-6 too. Playing under lights doesn’t seem to make a difference either: in six day-night games, the team batting first has won three and lost three. However, India have never lost a match here after calling correctly at the toss, winning three times, while one match was rained out.

If Saturday’s match is anything like the previous clash between India and New Zealand here, then the crowd at the Lal Bahadur Stadium will have plenty to cheer. In that match, Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid pulverised New Zealand, adding a world record 331 for the second wicket as India amassed 376, and won by a whopping 174 runs. Tendulkar made an undefeated 186 while Dravid got 153. Neither has bettered that performance in an ODI.

An Indian victory will not only take them into the final, it will also preserve their record in triangular tournaments at home: in six previous competitions, they have always made it to the final, and have gone to win lift the title four times.

Stephen Fleming’s abdominal strain means that Chris Cairns will lead New Zealand, and while that may seem a huge bonus for the Indians, Cairns has a 100 percent record as captain. In his only ODI in that role, New Zealand achieved a splendid victory against Australia in a VB Series match in 2001-02. Cairns made a vital 31 in New Zealand’s 235, and then took the crucial wicket of Michael Bevan, as Australia folded for 212.

Former Guyana and West Indies ace off-spinner Lance Gibbs is strongly opposed to a foreign coach supervising the regional side.The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) announced last week that Australian Bennett King would be appointed coach of the regional team, subject to completion of contractual negotiations; but Gibbs knockedthe decision."We have had too many great cricketers to be bringing someone from outside. That’s my view," Gibbs said in an interview in St Lucia on Sunday where he was one of the patrons for the historic Double Wicket World Cup."But let’s wait and see what’s going to happen. I don’t know whois being appointed as the Australian man [King] is saying he is not the coach. I don’t know what isreally going on," declared the68-year-old Gibbs.Gibbs, a tall, wily off-break bowler, who took 18 five-wicket Test hauls and had career-best figures of eight for 38 against India at Kensington Oval in 1962, said it had not always been smooth sailing for teams who used foreign coaches as they had to resort to their own people."Let’s look at it this way. Pakistan have just got rid of their overseas coach and they brought back Javed Miandad. [John] Wright [of New Zealand] is not returning even though India did particularly well in the World Cup," Gibbs noted.Gibbs, who captured 309 wickets in 79 Tests between 1958 and 1976 at an average of 29.09 runs apiece to be the West Indies’ most successful spin bowler, said international teams had been making too many hasty decisions regarding coaches and captains."I think the whole cricketing world seems to be panicking. The English guy [Nasser] Hussain doesn’t want to be captain for the One-Day games any longer. [Sanath] Jayasuriya was coming out while [Shaun] Pollock has been fired and they [South Africa] are putting somebody else."I think they [the countries] should take it in stride and allow things to work themselves out in a much better way, because when you start firing A, B, C, D as the case may be, there is no confidence left in the individual who is going to take over," contended Gibbs.Gibbs, also a former West Indies team manager and coach, said he could not say whether the former West Indian "greats" who had coached the regional team in the past, were able to make an impact on the players. "If they are not getting through. I got through to them!"