South Africa set sights on top spot in Tests

Overshadowed by the Olympics and obscured by the Kevin Pietersen saga, England and South Africa resume their series at Lord’s on Thursday with the top Test ranking on the line. If South Africa can preserve or extend their 1-0 series lead they will replace the hosts at the top of the ICC Test rankings. “Some people say we are not sure about the rankings, do they hold any water?” South Africa coach Gary Kirsten said. “But deep down every team aspires to and would like to know that they are the No.1 team in the world.” This wouldn’t, however, be apparent judging by the headlines that dominated cricket over the past week. The build-up to the Test has been eclipsed by a fiasco centered on a man who won’t even play in the match. After South Africa routed England by an innings and 12 runs in the first Test at The Oval, the series was only kept alive by an unexpectedly thrilling draw in the second Test at Headingley last week, when Pietersen almost single-handedly dragged England back into the contest with a spectacular innings of 149. If England stick with the policy of playing six specialist batsmen, his replacement will be Jonny Bairstow, who was unconvincing in three Tests against West Indies earlier this summer. Bairstow averaged 12.66 against an attack far weaker than South Africa’s and it isn’t difficult to guess which batsman the Proteas would rather face. England will likely make another change to their line-up. Strauss admitted that excluding spinner Graeme Swann at Headingley was a mistake, meaning one of the seamers, probably Steven Finn or Stuart Broad, will make way. From:Gulftoday