As predicted, England continue their winning ways at the Oval
Iain Fletcher had faith in England, and hopefully you did too, as they ended up the easy victors by 7 wickets.
There come times when you have to reverse your ideas because the information is so overwhelming. It is a bit like that with England and their cricket at the moment. Ranked 7 in one day internationals they are thrashing South Africa who had serious designs on becoming the number one team by the end of this series.
So with England 2-0 up what has happened??
1: The Pietersen effect – he has gelled a team and made them bolder and secure and has benefited from the support of both Freddie Flintoff and Steve Harmison. He also does not give his wicket away as captain.
2: South Africans – the boys having won the Test series have lacked the intensity expected. Some reports suggest they partied well and good (as they should) but since then have lost the spark of energy that is their usual state.
3: Graeme Smith – he is the pulse of the side and he has been low powered. Partly because he may be tired having won the Tests and as we now know his tennis elbow has been acute and he will now fly home. A team takes its cue from its leader. Smith has been subdued while Pietersen has been all energy.
So for this match we have to keep ourselves on the side of England because unlike Australia when they dismissed England before the floodlights came on in 2006, Pietersen will not accept complacency.
Back England and that may well be the case for the rest of the series.
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