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| Dale Steyn signals his 5 for |
The South African cricket team
defeated the English by an innings and 12 runs at the Oval today. And in doing so, they've certainly taken a massive stride towards that # 1 spot on the
ICC test rankings. This is the first time that South Africa have won at the oval and also the first time that they've won the first test of an away series in England.
What is going to the hurt England the most is not just the defeat but the margin and manner of defeat. This is the
most comprehensive victory ever in test match cricket history spanning more than 100 years.
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| Kevin Pieterson is cleaned up |
The defeat reveals the toothlessness of the English attack on a flat and placid track. It is difficult to believe this is the same surface on which SA manged to take 20 wickets and England 2 for the cost of 637 runs. If you count the 143 run 10th wicket partnership from the last WI test match, the English bowlers have now conceded 780 runs for 3 wickets.
This can also be treated as an indication of what the English should
expect when they tour India later this year. Watch out England, the number one ranking is slipping away.
