SA Have their Nose Ahead but Can Pietersen do it This Time?

The last time these two met, South Africa won by a 4-1 margin. It was also the season that Kevin Pietersen was unleashed and it wrecked three centuries upon his country of origin. Pietersen has stepped up the game again. He now leads his adopted country. Can this renewed assault destroy South Africa’s unbeaten record since November 2007?

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In what is becoming a common trend these days, both team compositions undergo changes but perhaps England’s is more significant than any in the South African line up. Had not the week long rain necessitated an early call off of the one-off Twenty20 game at Chester-le-Street, Kevin Pietersen would have kicked off another version of the game as captain. He will now lead England against the visitors at Headingley tomorrow, provided the rains hold off.

More could not have been expected of a newcomer. Kevin Pietersen scored three centuries in that series against South Africa in 2005. But it was not enough to stop the hosts from running away with the series. This time Pietersen has the opportunity to dish some of his own on ‘his’ home turf. And he has now the added responsibility of leading this England side with greater vigour in a bid to turn their fortunes around. After all England are on the sixth rung while South Africa are ranked second in the world.

But few things excite Pietersen more than taking on the seemingly impossible and adding his own brash, bold twist to it. Mickey Arthur picked him as England’s ‘man of the series’ because not only does he have the ability to score big runs but also, has the abilities to win matches almost single handedly. Pietersen counts amongst those men who lead from the front. And he is up against another man not known to take a step down when the teams has its backs to the wall.

Graeme Smith has had enough time between the series victory, the dead rubber loss and this first one day international to know that England, even when they were trounced in the series, have that crucial win the last Test which they will carry positive memories from. South Africa’s pride was dented a tad that too with Pietersen skippering his first Test for England. Smith is only too aware of Pietersen’s prowess to create an inspirational knock and South Africa’s prime strategy would be to keep Pietersen under a silent tab.

But England have other problems. Matt Prior wears the England gloves after a year in oblivion. The crucial wicket keeping position, it appears, is up for grabs. Paul Collingwood is still serving his four match ban incurred during the series against New Zealand as captain of England. So, the middle order may get a fill in more likely by Luke Wright but also, perhaps Graham Swann is in contention.

Pietersen is making one bold move. He is elevating Owais Shah, who has been good at number six, to the one drop position with his justification that Shah was being ‘wasted’ down the order. This faith could be vindicated by the Middlesex batsman or England could miss a vital finisher.

Smith has a bold move of his own. Johan Botha, missing out of action for over a year and a half with a suspect bowling action, is back in the fray and amongst the likely final eleven. How he counter attacks Pietersen should be interesting as the latter has shown an uncanny repertoire to use his much controversially debated switch hits. Smith may have one or two other problems. Dale Steyn is likely to return to the side but Morne Morkel remains a doubt as does his brother Albie Morkel. Injury to Morne would mean a depleted bowling attack and one that South Africa can ill afford, pressing for their ten successive win in a row!