Date-stamped : 01 Jan96 - 14:30 Test # 1320 South Africa v England, 4th TEST St George's Park, Port Elizabeth. 26,27,28,29,30 December 1995. ====> Day 1, 26 Dec 95 Cullinan`s tasty offering adds a personal touch to classic recipe By Christopher Martin-Jenkinsin Port Elizabeth First Day of five: S Africa (230-4) v England THE toss at St George`s Park was always going to be a good one to win and South Africa eventually made the most of their good fortune on the first day of the fourth Test thanks to a classy and enterprising innings by Daryll Cullinan. His stand of 118 with Jonty Rhodes determined the honours of a day which had taken a promising turn for England when Gary Kirsten was out in mid-afternoon. That dogged little left-hander had expertly laid the base for a big total, but at 89 for three on a slowish, very true pitch which is likely to become uneven in bounce, South Africa were in danger of spoiling a classic recipe for success, like putting mint instead of cranberry sauce on the Christmas turkey. On a pitch like this one a total of 400 is the first objective. After that it is up to the bowlers: the second half of the home plan is that Paul Adams, having now become officially South Africa`s youngest Test cricketer, will help the fast bowlers to undermine England as the surface wears and becomes less reliable. When the time comes Allan Donald, Shaun Pollock and Brian McMil- lan will all, no doubt, bang the ball in short rather more than England, who settled, quite rightly, for trying to make the ball swing. Dominic Cork, Peter Martin and, to a lesser extent, Mark Ilott all did so, but not much passed the bat and the conditions were such that not much should have done. It needed a high-class innings to lift the cricket above the mun- dane. England bowled and fielded admirably, with Cork to the fore, but the modicum of swing and the occasional hint of turn for Richard Illingworth was all that they had in their favour. The sea breeze, which is normally guaranteed at Port Elizabeth was no more than a zephyr to help them, and the bounce thus far has been just about perfect. This was the ground on which that felicitous batsman Kenny McEwan scored many of his runs and Cullinan, who oozes class in much the same way though he may not yet have McEwan`s concentration, had the confidence to play his strokes once he had surmised that there was no reason for excessive caution. He comes from a fami- ly which made a small fortune out of tyres. He does not need to succeed at cricket to be sure of a comfortable living and there is in his batting something of the gaiety of an old- fashioned amateur. England`s selection was, as expected, safety first In particular he drives and cuts gloriously, as most of his 13 fours demonstrated during his 3.5 hours at the crease. Nor does he mind taking on the short ball and the new one disappeared past mid-on as soon as Cork, the Derbyshire colleague who was not ex- actly a dressing-room friend, attempted a bouncer. Unless Cork wins their renewed duel this morning, indeed, England may not have more than a draw to play for by this evening. Their selection was, as expected, safety-first. Mike Watkinson was left out to accommodate Jason Gallian, who made some fine stops at cover but would much have preferred to be batting as Kirsten and Andrew Hudson calmly went about their business in the opening overs. Cork at first bowled a little too short, Martin, when he took over at the Duckpond end, a little too full. Fifty were on the board by the 22nd over, with only a couple of moral successes for Ilott to disturb South African peace of mind. The weather had defied the forecast and a crowd of 17,000, which is merely a start, has already gone some way towards paying back the huge debt owed by Eastern Province`s Cricket Board for their handsome new Duckpond stand. People enjoyed themselves noisily, not least the brass band who played with panache all day from the old grandstand. They outdid the Barmy Army, which was no more than a reflection of the run of play, until Cork, having switched ends, found an outswinger of perfect length to nip out Andrew Hudson. Kirsten left more balls than he played, but, like a true opener, he recognised the ball to hit and put it away unerringly, usually past cover. Forty-five of his 51 came in fours. Still, South Africa managed barely above two an over in the morning, Illing- worth as usual keeping them quiet with his steady line and gentle variations. Hansie Cronje had gone 23 balls without getting off the mark when he hooked Martin for four, seven overs after lunch, but five minutes later he drove without getting fully to the pitch. Mike Atherton, having carefully placed himself at short extra cover for just such a stroke, held on brilliantly to a catch on his left and more difficult side. Unfortunately for England, Jonty Rhodes makes up in character and determination for what he lacks in natural ability It was the sort of moment which can turn a day`s play and England followed up by dismissing the obdurate Kirsten only three overs later, Ilott angling a ball across him and Graham Thorpe holding on to a nasty little catch at first slip, ankle high. Unfortunately for England, Jonty Rhodes makes up in character and determination for what he lacks in natural ability. His Test average is 33; his average in this series prior to yesterday`s innings was 33; and his first-class career average is 33, all of which tells a true story. For 40 overs Rhodes and Cullinan made sure England would suffer for Atherton`s wrong call at the start of the day. Before tea and for some time after Rhodes was the quiet partner, but he changed up a gear. His quick feet got him into position to drive Illing- worth back over his head, giving Cullinan courage to repeat the stroke to get to his fifty, and it was a resonant pull for six by Rhodes as Cork warmed up for the taking of the new ball which took the partnership past 100. Unwisely, perhaps, Rhodes tried to repeat the shot when the new ball had been taken, after exactly 80 overs, at 201 for three. He middled the ball again, but this time low to Robin Smith at square leg, who caught it well. Cullinan, however, had not fin- ished. He has passed 1,000 Test runs now and England will need to get him and McMillan swiftly this morning to have a serious chance of winning, as opposed to drawing. Source :: The Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk) Contributed by The Management (help@cricinfo.com) ====> Day 1, more Different strokes prove South Africa`s salvation - Mark Nicholas A GREAT part of captaincy is fiddling, going with your instinct however unorthodox it may sometimes be. On this cosy Port Eliza- beth pitch Michael Atherton positioned himself at short extra cover for Hansie Cronje, who loves to drive through the off side but does not always do so with his weight ideally balanced. Dig a couple in at the South African captain and then slip him the carrot: that full, driving ball he cannot resist. Peter Mar- tin did just that, Cronje failed to resist and, as if by magic, his opposite number flew to his left and held a wonderful catch. This was an important strike and it appeared to unsettle Gary Kirsten, who was beautifully caught at slip three overs later. So suddenly from solidarity South Africa found insecurity: 89 for three, two new batsmen at the crease and England up and running. However, it was more than 2.5 hours before England were up again as the skilful, elegant Daryll Cullinan and the energetic Jonty Rhodes dug in and saved the day. They are an unusual pair, Cul- linan with his orthodox, old-fashioned method, and Rhodes with his bat held aloft and his shoulders rigid. Rhodes is a bright, smiling man who has found Christianity. Cul- linan is a quiet, brooding talent who studies Tai Chi and who waits still to fulfil himself. Rhodes is a shining star: a fresh, suntanned face of television commercials and fetting camp followers. Cullinan is a pale, weary-looking soul and pleased if he avoids anything public. And yet it is Cullinan who plays the spectacular strokes and Rhodes who nurdles and punches. It is Cullinan who eases half-volleys either side of the cover field and Rhodes who slaps the odd pull shot and sweeps the slow bowlers to distraction. Twelve years ago Cullinan, now 28, became the youngest South African to score a first-class hundred, a record previously held by Graeme Pollock. Billed as the next Barry Richards, as much a burden as breaking a Pollock record, Cullinan`s development was interrupted by the expectation. As a boy he was a lively, generous character but as he was con- fronted by the adult world he hid in a shell and has only recent- ly begun to emerge from it. Two years ago, batting for Transvaal at the Wanderers, he made South Africa`s highest first-class score, an unbeaten 337. Soon after this innings, in Sri Lanka he made his only Test match hundred. Well as he played at the Oval on South Africa`s 1994 tour of Eng- land, when he made 94 and was the only batsman not dismissed by Devon Malcolm, he still yearns for recognition and for per- manence. In many ways, today was his best innings for his country as he maintained his fluency, kept control of his self-destructing ten- dencies and ensured that his team did not spurn the valuable win- ning of the toss. By coincidence, Rhodes has made only one Test hundred and that too in Sri Lanka. He is not a grand batsman but he is an infuri- atingly effective one. As Allan Border observed: "Just when you think you`ve got South Africa where you want them, that bloody Rhodes somehow, and who knows how, finds a way to score crucial runs." Rhodes, now 26, made a hundred on his first-class debut seven years ago. He is revered in Natal for his all-round gifts: for the fielding that is compared with Colin Bland; for the hockey that he played for South Africa; for his resilience in the face of epilepsy; for his faith and for his fun. Border`s words were best illustrated by Rhodes`s finest hour in Sydney, Australia, when he made 76 not out in an extraordinary see-sawing Test match that South Africa won by five runs. Howev- er, they were reiterated yesterday as the little jack-in-a-box eked out an imperative partnership of 118 with Cullinan. Never once did he match his partner for stroke but always he matched him in deed. His 49 runs were the gritty stuff for which he is chosen. It was Cullinan, though, who played the cricket of the day and though he remained unbeaten he was fortunate to do so. Had Ather- ton `fiddled` and posted a second slip as Martin bowled with the second new ball, Cullinan might well have been sitting with Rhodes in the dressing room this morning, instead of resuming 17 short of what would be a lovely hundred. Source :: The Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk) Contributed by The Management (help@cricinfo.com) ====> Day 2, 27 Dec 95 Atherton can tough it out for England By Christopher Martin-Jenkins in Port Elizabeth Second day of five: England are 40-1 in reply to S Africa`s 428 all out THE belief that England have become a tougher side to beat, as distinct from one ready to start winning, will be tested anew to- day when they continue their first innings at St George`s Park 388 runs behind South Africa with Alec Stewart already out. Much, as ever, will depend on the captain, Mike Atherton, who should be in his element on a pitch still docile and reliable, provided he gets through the first hour. Assisted by a bit of luck, Jason Gallian stuck with him yesterday evening after Stewart had exposed him with a stroke which might have been unacceptably risky in a Sunday league match. Gallian`s back leg saved him from an inside edge on to his stumps against Allan Donald before Paul Adams was introduced in the eighth over in an atmosphere of theatrical intensity. The senior novice managed to keep out the junior one, but the jitters at first looked to be more in the batsman`s stomach than the bowler`s. The youngest man to bowl for South Africa started with an excel- lent maiden, but after five overs and two leg-side fours from Gallian, he was forced to try bowling over the wicket. Three men close in on the off-side was evidence more of the situation than of any dangerous turn, and it was the bounce of Shaun Pollock, a veteran of four Tests, which looked more likely to make a second breakthrough. It would need inspired bowling or reckless batting for the long odds on a draw to be confounded. For the moment, however, South Africa hold the aces, and England`s vice-captain had good reason for remorse after he had dabbed the first ball within reach from Pollock through the be- guiling gap between second slip and gully. It raced to the third-man boundary, but an attempted reprise to the next ball brought his downfall. In only the second of the minimum of 18 overs which England were left to face after bowling South Africa out an hour after tea, this was irresponsibility unworthy of so talented a player. Hav- ing argued his case to continue as Atherton`s opening partner only last week, Stewart must know that he is now on thin ice. It was as well for the match, and a crowd of 11,000, that this final session occurred because the quick fall of Daryll Cullinan had taken the poetry from the cricket all too early. Dave Richardson, on his home ground, contributed a robust and valuable innings of 84, and Brian McMillan held his ground sturdily through the morning session without being able to cash in later. But there was little to grip the imagination as England, dropping five chances and half-chances, plugged away with spirit but slight conviction and an absence of that extra class which can unsettle good batsmen even on true pitches like this. Russell sparkled behind the stumps and had a hand in all five dismissals With the gallant exception of Jack Russell, their cricket in the field was significantly less impressive than on the first day, which is what tends to happen with no more than one world-class bowler in the side on a flat pitch when the opposition have everything in their favour. Russell sparkled behind the stumps and had a hand in all five dismissals, the last deft piece of work to run out Adams before he had scored, after a dim-witted attempt at a second run by Donald, putting a final sheen on his performance. Cork, getting a lucky break with his first ball of the day, was as indomitable as ever, never anything less than optimistic and aggressive, but there were times when he might have been better advised to deny his instincts for once and simply try to keep it tight. On the other hand, Atherton must be grateful that he has at least one man ready to run in fiercely in any conditions and although he bowled more overs than anyone, the boundary count against Cork - 11 fours and a six - was no greater than anyone else`s. Richard Illingworth had a bad morning before using the breeze and, briefly, the rough with skill after lunch. Peter Martin, the unluckiest member of the attack, went for a relatively respect- able 10 fours and would have had more wickets on a bouncier sur- face. Even before Mark Ilott walked off with a strained thigh, four balls into only his seventh over of the day, he had looked the bowler least likely to take a wicket. Graeme Hick was under- bowled and should have had Richardson caught at slip when 67. Cullinan, 83 not out overnight, added only eight more, four of them from a handsome square-cut off Martin, before trying to cut Cork`s wide first ball and edging it to Russell. It was England`s only success of the morning, but McMillan was not prepared to do more than defend until the bad ball came. When it did he punished it, none more severely than the full toss from Illingworth which he pummelled into the smallest and oldest of the Port Elizabeth stands at mid-wicket. Illingworth was on again after lunch, however, and McMillan bottom-edged a cut five overs into the afternoon to leave Richardson as senior partner. Timing the ball beautifully, with his bottom hand in control, this unobtrusive, dependable crick- eter hit 11 fours and looked capable of a second Test hundred un- til Illingworth went over the wicket, spun a ball sharply out of the rough and watched as Russell burrowed beneath his counterpart`s feet to scoop up a catch off bat and pad. Eight overs later, Craig Matthews was stumped, as if to underline the indispensability of the slow bowler on pitches like these. There will be at least one change to the England attack in Cape Town, however. Ilott`s injury gives renewed hope to Angus Fraser, and Darren Gough is now bowling flat out again in the nets. More significantly, perhaps, Devon Malcolm could be spotted half an hour before play started yesterday, sprinting up and down a fenced-off area of the practice ground, all by himself. Some side may pay an unwitting penalty for his isolation on this tour and it could yet be South Africa in the final Test. First, this one has to be saved. Source :: The Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk) Contributed by The Management (help@*ogi.edu) ====> Day 2, more Adams` new family sing out chorus of approval The Old Grandstand is awash with colour and noise as `Goggo` makes his entrance. Mark Nicholas reports SOON after four o`clock yesterday afternoon the fourth Test erupted. "We want Goggo, we want Goggo," screamed the multi- coloured crowd in the Old Grandstand: and they got him with a delirious, delighted response. The brass band thundered When the Saints and Paul Adams, the youngest man to represent South Africa, marched into the interna- tional arena for the first time. An 18-year-old Coloured boy had done it. Had been selected for South Africa on merit, had safely blocked his first ball and had given his people hope. All around St George`s Park stood to applaud. It was Brian McMil- lan who christened Adams "Goggo" - a spider-like insect - and the country caught on. On the first morning he was on the scoreboard as Paul Goggo, incidentally pronounced "Hor-hor", which is homage indeed. This series had needed something out of the ordinary, a spark to light the damp embers, a cricketer with flair. It is fitting it should be a young Coloured man who represents South Africa`s fresh face to the world. In a section of the splendid Old Grandstand the flags and the painted faces were a sea of colour: of the yellow, the green and the black; the red, the white and the blue, which symbolise the republic`s new identity. And among the flags and the faces and the banners and the beers, a bunch of freelaqnce musicians played groovy stuff - sort of New Orleans jazz - and good at it they were too . . . "Give me hope, Mandela, give HOPE Mandela, give me hope, hope, hope," to the notes of Eddie Grant`s Give me hope Joanna, which they had started 10.30am and abandoned long before lunch. The Cricket Board discovered Marcellus Welman and his saxophone at a limited-overs night match. Welman had the odd accomplice, his brothers were handy with a trombone, but was pretty haphazard about his production which was limited mostly to church. Out in the middle the England captain smiled his wry smile as Hansie Cronje quickly gave "Hor-Hor" his first bowl in Test cricket Welman mixed with a trumpet player and then discovered other keen musicians, encouraging them to join him at St George`s Park. They jumped at the chance - everyone of them is your original cricket nut and they play their own Test matches on the outfield during the intervals - four trumpet players, two trombonists and three drummers; even a tuba got in on the act yesterday, and wisely so too because Welman has negotiated 30 free tickets for the Port Elizabeth matches and guarantees a daily spectacular. On the first day of the match "the St George`s Park band" as they call themselves, welcomed England with a terrific rendition of Swing Low, Sweet Chariot, and followed it with an anthem of their own, the old African number, Sho Sho Loza, which became a theme tune during the winning of the rugby union World Cup. Sho Sho Loza greeted Allan Donald yesterday afternoon as he marked his run and then, when he tore in at Michael Atherton, the band blew their instruments into such a frenzy that umpire Buck- nor couldn`t have heard a nick with an amplifier. "If you all want a wicket clap your hands, all want a wicket, all want a wicket clap your hands," . . . and bingo, Alec Stewart edged fatally, standing his ground before finding the truth of the error and marching off with military precision. The big brass band and their hundreds of followers went bananas. The dancing, singing, playing boys were having a whale of a time: cool dudes, hot dudes, white dudes and black dudes, any old dude will do, in the Old Grandstand at PE - eat your hearts out you Barmy Army. This lot are better even than anything the Caribbean has to offer - "Atherton, stop acting as Donald`s punchbag," as another short-pitcher whizzed past his throat - for the humour and the wit of the Cape Coloured is cracking enough on its own, but if you mix it with hysterically giggling, thigh-slapping, head- rolling native Africans, then throw in the odd grinning Indian and a handful of lively Whites you`ve got the sort of show that Billy Smart might bring to town. Out in the middle the England captain smiled his wry smile as Hansie Cronje quickly gave "Hor-Hor" his first bowl in Test cricket. Ball one baffled the twitching Jason Gallian - what a day for a debut abroad - ball two brought a wild appeal. Balls three and four were negotiated, ball five cannoned off the pad to the vul- tures, ball six led to a half-chance as short leg lurched low and sideways for the possible catch. Some start. Gallian smiled too; not much else he could do, he probably thought. Marcellus and his musicians blasted their final offering, Anthem to Adams, and dipped their heads and wheeled their left arms in his honour during the chorus. The new kid on the block must have felt a million dollars ... and to think we can't even rattle a can at the Oval these days. Oh, how stuffy old England misses such fun. Source :: The Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk) Contributed by The Management (help@*ogi.edu) ====> Day 3, 28 Dec 95 South Africa wrest control Atherton`s dismissal a turning point as England face long battle to secure draw, reports Christopher Martin-Jenkins in Port Eliza- beth Third day of five: England are 250-7 in reply to S Africa`s 428 all out THERE are very few England innings these days which do not seem to revolve around the fortunes of their captain. Until Michael Atherton was out, or given out, in the 78th over of the innings, the fourth Test in Port Elizabeth had `certain draw` written all over it, no matter how tenaciously the South African bowlers were fighting for wickets on a pitch still entirely in the batsman`s favour. When he was forced to drag himself, too obviously unwillingly, from a middle he had occupied for a fraction under five hours, it instantly became a different and more exciting game. Making the most of their good fortune, the South Africans surged through a half-open gate and England were suddenly surrounded and fighting for their lives. The home side still have a sufficiently large advantage to make a win very much possible. With two days left England are still 178 behind with three first-innings wickets standing and given the expected deterioration of the pitch (though there are no signs of that yet) they will be glad if they get to Cape Town unscathed. The England players had reason, though only up to a point, to feel incensed by two decisions by Cyril Mitchley, who is South Africa`s best umpire. The first accounted for Atherton, caught by Dave Richardson off his pad, as he tried to turn a ball from Paul Adams to leg; the second condemned Graeme Hick, who was counter- attacking effectively against the second new ball when Allan Donald had him lbw on the back foot to a ball which appeared to be going well over leg stump. The impartial can argue decisions like these after the event and conclude that umpires should not be giving batsmen out unless they are absolutely sure. It is hard to feel sympathy for players generally, however, when all teams in all professional cricket - and sadly in most amateur cricket too - no longer help umpires. They appeal when they know someone has not hit the ball; they no longer walk when they know they have. In those circumstances they can only expect occasional mistakes, especially from umpires under the glare of the media. John Barclay, defended Atherton's reaction to being given out as 'disappointment which at no stage bordered on dissent' Mitchley and Steve Bucknor are wearing equipment which is moni- toring their heart-rate during this game, part of a survey start- ed here last season into how stress affects umpiring decisions. The more hostile atmosphere of contemporary cricket has only made their life tougher. Clive Lloyd, the referee, spoke to both teams in the tea interval yesterday about `gestures` by players on both sides and told them to cool down. Dominic Cork and Mark Ilott had already been spoken to by Ray Illingworth for aggressive gestures after taking wickets on the first day, but England`s assistant manager, John Barclay, defended Atherton`s reaction to being given out as "disappointment which at no stage bordered on dissent". The referee took no action. Atherton was, however, fortunate that the referee was not his bjte-noire of 1994, Peter Burge: several shakes of the head and the slowness of his walk made it abundant- ly clear that he did not think he was out and he was no doubt right. On the other hand, Shaun Pollock thought Atherton had been caught off his glove down the leg side for 45 in the last over before lunch and television replays suggested Pollock might have been right, too. Whatever the rights and wrongs of its conclusion, this was anoth- er expert and dedicated innings. Having batted 341 minutes in Pretoria and 648 in Johannesburg, Atherton was largely untroubled for 298 minutes here. His dismissal turned a subdued, albeit genuinely absorbing, conflict into an absolutely pulsating afternoon`s entertainment. In 13 overs before and just after tea, England lost four wickets for 37. The band played fortissimo and the crowd around them worked them- selves into a frenzy while the estimated 4,000 from England per- spired anxiously in gloriously reformed weather. They need not have feared because Jack Russell, hardly less reliable than Ath- erton himself in his suddenly-found confidence and maturity, was still there to hold an end against some ferocious new-ball bowl- ing by Donald, Pollock and McMillan. Pulling and glancing with wonderfully crisp timing, and finding a determined partner in Richard Illingworth, Russell saw England past the total of 229 required to make South Africa bat again. Adams had the first of several long spells yesterday after 45 minutes of testing fast bowling from Donald and Pollock Adams needed some luck for both his wickets yesterday but they were prime wickets and he bowled well, varying the stock googly with a very occasional genuine chinaman. On a worn pitch in the fourth innings he will turn the ball sharply and quickly. Bob Woolmer said of Adams last night: "He looks as though he has been playing Test cricket for 15 years and I hope he does." He has given Hansie Cronje a valuable extra option but, honestly as Craig Matthews bowled, a second spinner would have given the at- tack an ideal balance. Adams had the first of several long spells yesterday after 45 minutes of testing fast bowling from Donald and Pollock which Atherton weathered with accomplished and determined batting. Essentially he defended, but this did not mean being wholly pas- sive: he hooked almost as often as he ducked, once hitting Pol- lock only a little above the head of backward square-leg for four. Jason Gallian, less experienced, much less confident and not quite so good, could do no more than survive. He managed that only for eight overs and had not added to his overnight 14 when he edged a slightly tentative forward defensive against Pollock and was skilfully caught low at first slip by Daryll Cullinan. Graham Thorpe played from the start like a man who knew he was capable of making a hundred on a pitch as true as this. In a mere 12 overs he had established an apparent command, making 27 off 34 balls without risk and dominating the partnership with Atherton, which suited them both. It was therefore a complete surprise when he pulled Adams to midwicket to give the teenager his first Test wicket with his 74th ball. It was only partly lucky because the ball was a frac- tion fuller in length than Thorpe had judged and came on to his bat higher than he expected. Hick`s innings before lunch was uncertain. Half forward to McMil- lan when three, he was close to being out leg before, and an at- tempt to force the last, wide, ball before the interval for four, was almost disastrous. He batted with greater composure after- wards, though McMillan bowled superbly at him and he had made only 37 of his stand of 75 with the captain when Adams struck for the second time. McMillan followed up immediately when Robin Smith padded up to a straight ball. The fox was suddenly among the hens, but Hick`s reaction was ideal. He on-drove Adams for six, swept him for his fifth four to reach a hard-earned fifty and, when the new ball was taken at 190 for five, drove Pollock over extra cover and hooked his next ball for another four. The lbw decision put an abrupt end to all that and again South Africa made a double strike as Cork, heart ruling head, drove at a wide half-volley and edged it to the impeccable Richardson. Source :: The Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk) Contributed by The Management (help@*ogi.edu) ====> Day 4, 29 Dec 95 Belligerent Cork burst inspires England`s attempt to turn tide By Christopher Martin-Jenkins in Port Elizabeth Fourth day of five: England (263 & 20-0) trail S Africa (428 & 162-9d) by 307 runs A DRAW this fourth Test match may still be, but not any more a dull one. From the moment that Mike Atherton was out on the third day, it has turned into a fascinating match at St George`s Park. The outcome of its final act today may well hang on how long the same Atherton can keep the South African fast bowlers and their little googly bowler at bay. England`s other specialist batsmen owe their captain proper support this time. South Africa hold all the aces, as they have since they won the toss and Daryll Cullinan got going on the first day. Their bowlers ruthlessly finished off the England first innings in only 40 minutes yesterday morning. Although Dominic Cork`s quite extraordinary belligerence and stamina actually gave England their first small sight of the dis- tant prospect of winning, the brief crisis passed for the home team. Gary Kirsten held the fort while six of his partners fell for 69 before Shaun Pollock helped him restore the initiative. England`s response was leg-theory, an old concept pragmatically re-conceived by Atherton, carried out with brilliant accuracy by Cork and clearly disapproved of by umpire Cyril Mitchley who, for all his debatable decisions in this match, has the great virtue of being able and willing to talk to players in their own language. With Richard Illingworth wheeling away equally accurately from over the wicket into the rough, the tactics succeeded in delaying the dreadful moment when the England second innings had to start. When it did, after South Africa had declared in the middle of an over with nine wickets down to avoid the possibility of Paul Adams damaging a finger (not that he is a rabbit, nor lacks bot- tle) England were left 328 to win and a minimum of 99 overs to bat. Atherton and Alec Stewart made 20 without mishap as Hansie Cronje gave four bowlers a chance on a pitch which, apart from the rough, is still docile. If all went unusually well for England in the first four hours of the final day, a win would not necessarily be out of reach, but Adams is accurate enough, on the evidence so far, to bowl over the wicket into rough to save the game, whether or not he can find sufficiently venomous spin to win it from round the wicket. There was some debate afterwards about the period of the South African innings when Cork was bowling just outside the leg stump with a leg slip and long leg. Those tactics were famously em- ployed by Trevor Bailey at Leeds in 1953 when Australia were ra- pidly closing on a win against the England spinners. The tactics were soon outlawed, when one-day cricket became the vogue, by a harsher interpretation of leg-side wides, and it would need only a change of instructions to umpires to call `wide` for balls within reach for the problem to be dealt with if it recurred with any frequency in Test cricket. Mitchley did, in fact, eventually call a wide when Cork strayed a little further, which made his point well. There were no half-measures, either, about the way that South Africa finished off the England first innings. Allan Donald went round the wicket to have Illingworth caught in the gully and im- mediately aimed at Peter Martin`s head. The first missile flew over the top, the second scored a direct hit. You could call it intimidation, but Martin can bat a bit and um- pires tend to ignore that law in Test cricket, with the result that bowlers of all nations with any pace simply let fly at tail-enders. Cork`s first ball, later, to Adams was, too predict- ably, a bouncer. The amiable `Digger` Martin was perhaps a little shaken, soon went back instead of forward to Adams, and was bowled as a quick- er ball spun back underneath his bat on to the stumps. Jack Russell, having added only four to his overnight 26, was ob- liged now to make haste and he soon carved Donald to gully, where Cullinan`s quick reactions and safe hands were once again in evi- dence. So, too soon, England were in the field again, 165 behind. Out- standingly as their three fit specialist bowlers now performed (Mark Ilott took the field for a few minutes but could barely hobble) the rapid fall of wickets which followed probably gave South Africa their best chance of winning. There was a certain confusion in South African tactics: too slow an accumulation would only have reduced the time available to their bowlers in the fourth innings, but instead of concentrating first on a solid start, they lost two wickets to Martin before lunch and were grateful indeed for Kirsten`s sturdy batting as Cork and Illingworth took four afternoon wickets for nine runs. Andrew Hudson made the first mistake, driving at a wide out- swinger, a temptation he cannot resist. Cronje, by contrast, was merely pushing, to no great purpose, at a ball outside his off stump. From 18 for two, Cullinan and Kirsten soon got down to business, Cullinan playing one glorious drive through extra cover and Kirsten piercing the off side for two fours in an over off Cork. They might have subdued a man of lesser spirit, but not the fiery Cork, who would make the average Australian cricketer seem uncom- petitive and who may beat Australia almost on his own next time if he is not bowled into the ground. After Cullinan had fallen, by verdict of the slow motion replay, to a marvellously quick leg-side stumping by Russell after miss- ing a heavy heave on bended knee, Cork claimed Rhodes lbw, a lit- tle dubiously, Brian McMillan to a catch at leg slip off his glove and Richardson off the outside edge as he drove, rashly. Nine match victims for Russell; three wickets in 17 balls for Cork: South Africa 69 for six. The McMillan dismissal was a triumph both for Atherton, who had only just posted the leg slip, and for Cork, who aimed his bounc- er at McMillan`s left shoulder, challenging him to hook, yet cramping him for room. Atherton and Cork were equally effective in slowing down Kirsten and Pollock as the seventh-wicket pair looked to accelerate once the innings had been put back on an even keel after following Cork`s heroic spell: his 20 overs were broken only by lunch and his second spell was three for 16 from 11 overs. Pollock, cool and elegant, played admirably for 23 overs while 66 were added before he top-edged a pull out of the rough. Source :: The Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk) Contributed by The Management (help@*ogi.edu) ====> Day 5, 30 Dec 1995 England`s honour intact as series rumbles towards Cape Town climax; Stalemate would reflect unfairly says Christopher Martin- Jenkins Final day: S Africa (428 & 162-9d) drew with England (263 & 189- 3) SO TO the climax; or, perish the thought, to England`s first nil-nil draw in a series of five Tests since M J K Smith`s side battled through the tummy-bugs to five stalemates against India in 1963/64. There have been only four other all drawn five-Test series any- where in cricket history, so it is desirable that the final game starting at Cape Town tomorrow should be a genuine decider. It will have a greater chance of being so if England have the courage to pick two experienced, fresh and motivated bowlers, De- von Malcolm and Angus Fraser, on a Newlands pitch expected by Port Elizabeth`s official man of the match, Gary Kirsten, to be "a good one for batting". All the talk of stalemate and negative play is a little false, which is perhaps reflected by the fact more than 103,000 tickets have already been sold for the five days at Newlands. Two Tests have been ruined by the weather and, following another successful rearguard in Port Elizabeth, two have now been genuinely and honourably drawn by an England side who have proved, around their rock of a captain, that colossal determina- tion can hold a position on reliable pitches, even when the flair and luck which are required for victories may be absent. No-one should have been surprised that the fourth Test faded on Saturday, after two days of great excitement, once Mike Atherton and Alec Stewart had batted through the morning without mishap. No doubt an England victory was feasible from that point, but when Atherton went, Stewart had a faltering Test career to worry about, quite apart from the fact that when one batsman goes another two too often follow all too quickly. England can hard- ly be criticised for spineless capitulations one week, and a lack of initiative the next. There was never more than an outside chance that England would score 328 in 99 overs Cricketing memories can be very selective. Cavalier batting in pursuit of victory targets in excess of 300 on the final day of Test matches is an extreme rarity, even in this era of the one- day game, which has opened horizons on one hand by proving to players that apparently unreachable goals are actually possible, and on the other hand made Test draws less common because of loosened techniques and batsmen who no longer find it easy to concentrate for long periods. There have been only 11 fourth-innings scores of more than 315 to win Tests, so there was never more than an outside chance that England would score 328 in 99 overs (308 in 90 on the last day). Scoring several fours to fine leg and third man off Allan Donald and his rather surprising opening partner, Craig Matthews, Ather- ton and Stewart added 43 in the first hour off 13 overs, but the rate had slowed against less attacking fields by lunchtime in hot weather which tired the bowlers. Hansie Cronje`s tactics were different from the ones he had used in Johannesburg. He bowled Matthews throughout the first hour rather than probing for a breakthrough with frequent changes. Donald`s morning spell at the Wanderers and his final fling with the new ball were formidable. He gave Stewart a torrid time, mix- ing fierce short balls with sudden yorkers and at one point dislodging the extra finger stall outside his bottom glove, which has successfully protected his suspect right index finger. Stewart hung on, occasionally stroking fours with that hauteur, which is his trademark, for 338 minutes and 81 welcome runs. It was his first fifty for England in 17 innings. Atherton succumbed soon after lunch, which immediately revived his opponents` hopes. He was palpably lbw to his 135th ball on a day when Cyril Mitchley - confirmed, quite rightly, as South Africa`s representative on the World Cup panel - got every deci- sion absolutely right. There was no doubt either about Mitchley`s upholding of Paul Adams`s appeal when Jason Gallian, after a stout innings which confirmed his character if not his unarguable Test quality, pad- ded up to the chinaman soon after tea. Two overs later Stewart sliced the new ball to gully, hitting off the back foot, and the band whipped all those around them into a joyous frenzy once more. Graham Thorpe and Graeme Hick dealt with the potential crisis capably and calmly, and soon after five o`clock the draw was conceded. Positive thinking is needed now This drew the curtains on a match which will be remembered for Adams`s happy start to Test cricket, the flair of Daryll Cul- linan, the intransigence of Atherton and the endless renditions of Shosholoza from the old grandstand. Adams had not been given his first chance until late in the morn- ing session. He bowled remarkably well, turning the ball quickly and sharply from both round and over the wicket (he was happier round it) and repeatedly hurrying the batsmen with his quicker chinaman. His lack of nerves was astonishing. This is a cricketer who had just received his first sponsored car, but who only became a learner driver 10 days ago. If England win the toss in Cape Town tomorrow - Mike Atherton and Ray Illingworth both conveniently forgot yesterday that this was a privilege which they unwisely spurned at Johannesburg - they may yet be able to move on to the next phase in the slow develop- ment of a worthy Test team. Atherton`s New Year resolution might be that he should be able to echo the words of Australia`s captain Mark Taylor following their latest Test victory: "We go into Test matches not thinking we can lose games. We are thinking very positively and we are also play- ing very good, exciting and aggressive cricket." Positive thinking is needed now, but manager and captain were both cagey on Saturday evening when they were asked about the possibility of leaving out Jason Gallian at Newlands to accommo- date a fifth specialist bowler. Mark Ilott`s strained thigh will definitely not recover in time, so at least one fresh bowler from a wide choice of Malcolm, Fraser, Darren Gough and Mike Watkinson will get a game. Source :: The Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk) Contributed by The Management (help@*ogi.edu)