The weather forecasters got it right, and their prediction of a good day for batting was turned into reality by England's top order. Suddenly the pitch, which was tinged with green under the cloud cover on the second day, behaved itself meticulously - even when South Africa took the second new ball - and, led by Alastair Cook, England have taken the advantage.  | Pietersen clearly does not rate Paul Harris as a top-flight spinner |
Cook, by his own admission, has not particularly enjoyed 2009. He scored a big hundred on a desperately flat pitch in Barbados and another against West Indies in early summer. But the Ashes was a personal disappointment with just one score over 32. His footwork has been the problem and for much of the six-and-a-half hours he spent at the crease here there was a noticeable improvement; just now and then lapsing to the habit of planting his right foot in front of off stump and trying to play around it. He made good use of the Umpire's Decision Review System (URDS) when, on 64, he was given out to a catch at short leg off JP Duminy. Immediately, Cook made the "T-sign" and it did not take long for the replays to show conclusively that he had not edged or gloved it. This was the best example of the DRS in action - a genuine mistake being quickly and efficiently overturned. Again, I repeat my view that there should be limitless reviews, but penalties imposed in the form of runs to the opposition for incorrect ones. This would remove the speculative reviews and ensure that only clear mistakes are reviewed and overturned. Much had been made in the build up to the day of Jonathan Trott's annoying habit of slowing down the game, and the South Africans have complained to the umpires, but he survived only six balls before edging Morne Morkel to Mark Boucher for 18. | 606: DEBATE |
Kevin Pietersen walked to the crease to a genuinely warm reception from his 'home' crowd but, having played well for 31, seemed to relax unduly against Paul Harris - who he clearly does not rate as a top-flight spinner - and missed a sweep to a straight ball. It was a disappointing end to a promising innings but his dismissal enabled Paul Collingwood to play with his usual mix of tenacity and enterprise as he and Cook batted throughout the afternoon. Cook's dismissal on 118 brought Ian Bell to the crease and, under pressure or not, he was quickly into his stride, even hitting Harris for six in an attempt to lay his dismissal at Centurion to rest. While Bell played fluently, Collingwood rather lost his way, scoring his last 19 runs from 68 balls before edging Duminy to Boucher for 91 leaving England with five wickets in hand with which to build a commanding lead on the fourth day.
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