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| Vic Marks: Fading Ntini's fragility poses SA problems The heart is still there but the bowler with 390 Test wickets has lost his pace and is no longer a threatIt was a day for the AS boys rather than the SA boys. The Anglo-Saxons did it for England rather than the South Africans. The men from the south-east and north-east, Alastair Cook and Paul Collingwood, frustrated the home attack, which looked increasingly imbalanced.It is an issue that could well haunt South Africa as the series progresses. At Kingsmead today Dale Steyn always commanded respect, Morne Morkel was even more challenging. But the two other specialists in Graeme Smith's arsenal, Makhaya Ntini and Paul Harris, were bland and expensive.We were not quite in the territory described by Graham Gooch in the Eighties when playing New Zealand – "it was like batting against the World XI at one end [against Richard Hadlee] and Ilford seconds at the other [the rest]" – but we were heading in that direction. Also, we must acknowledge that batting conditions at Kingsmead were sublime. The locals explained how when the wind comes from the north-east, it can be torture for bowlers. Nothing swings, nothing seams.Even so Ntini, a high-mileage bowler (he has never had a break because he never gets injured) has looked fragile in this game. It was a major surprise that he was given the new ball at the start of the England innings ahead of Morkel. This seemed either a hierarchical decision by Smith or merely a sympathetic one. Maybe the South Africa captain recognised this was the only time that Ntini might be a threat. As it transpired England, via a cavalier Andrew Strauss, snatched the initiative by cracking Ntini for 25 in three overs.Thereafter Ntini has been the least employed and the most expensive of the South African pacemen in this innings. He has been a phenomenal cricketer for his country and an equally fine ambassador. He has 390 Test wickets. Yet now it is getting uncomfortable. The icon is getting carted. He is still trying his heart out but the pace is not quite the same. He is even less fleet of foot in the field. On the most unforgiving of pitches he appears to be living on his reputation. It could become embarrassing.Gerald Majola, the chief executive of the South African board, told TMS listeners that "there was no political pressure to select Ntini", adding that when the selectors decide it is time for a change that is fine. Nonetheless it is a problem that there is no other black African cricketer who could make the Test team at the moment.The unwritten understanding appears to be that there should at least be a black African in the squad and preferably one in the team. However, surely the greatest embarrassment for South African cricket would be to play someone who patently does not merit his place. Whether to drop Ntini will be the greatest topic of debate when the selectors, chaired by Mike Procter, meet before the Cape Town Test and it does not feel quite as simple a process as Majola suggests.They may, however, also be concerned by Harris's performance. There was a strong, gusty breeze in the morning and that seemed to disconcert the left-armer. So did Cook, which was rather more surprising. Cook is not renowned as a slayer of slow bowling. Yet he launched a little assault upon Harris. In the first 50 minutes of play Cook faced 37 balls and scored one run against the quick bowlers.After the first drinks interval Harris was introduced. Immediately Cook was down on his knees sweeping. He got the field spread. He made Harris bowl poorly. Soon there were opportunities for him to play his favourite cut shot and boundaries were gleaned. In all Cook faced 53 balls from Harris in his innings, from which he scored 44 runs. That almost constitutes an assault. It also suggests that England had adopted a conscious policy of attacking the South African spinner (albeit one poorly executed by Kevin Pietersen). Strategically this seems a worthwhile gamble for when Harris is leaking runs rapidly there are problems for the captain Smith, especially if Ntini is also expensive.By contrast, in South Africa's innings Graeme Swann was given great respect by such accomplished players as Smith and Kallis. He bowled excellently but, unlike Harris today, he was allowed to. It was only when Steyn, batting with the last man, Ntini, opened his shoulders and smacked a trio of sixes, that the off‑spinner's stranglehold was broken. Up until then the South Africans had not dared to attack him.England's policy of attacking Harris can be seen as rare evidence of an aggressive intent in this contest, but it may not be sufficient to tip the balance here especially if the wind continues to blow from the north-east and the pitch remains so benign. This series is evolving as an attritional battle with a 1-0 outcome ever more likely. It would spoil the fun to tell you to whom.England in South Africa 2009-2010South Africa cricket teamEngland Cricket TeamCricketVic Marksguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
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