Andrew Strauss Defies Bad Weather

4 Dec 2009

This morning the outfield of the Kingsmead cricket ground at Durban, South Africa, had turned into an enormous lake in which was reflected the empty grandstand. If the grandstand remains empty today, then South Africa will have been deprived of the opportunity of diverting a historic victory by England in the final match of the One Day International series. Andrew Strauss the England captain remains confident that there will be play, though at the time of writing the rain continues to fall.

Already the series has been shortened by the weather and not a single over was bowled in the first match of the series. To lose two matches would be a major disappointment, especially when England are leading the series by two matches to one and are well placed to turn this into a 3-1 trouncing.

 If there is play and England win the match, or if there is none, then England will have achieved the position of being only the second international team to win a one day series in South Africa. The only other occasion was when the South Africans were beaten by Australia.

According to Strauss, the reason for England’s return to form in the one day version of the sport was the humiliation they suffered in England this summer when, despite regaining the Ashes, they were beaten by Australia 6-1. This led to a complete rethink regarding the way England approached one day cricket and a new approach was developed by Strauss and Andy Flower the England team director. This, said Strauss, led to a far more expressive and confident form of cricket, which has paid off.

In Durban the rain has been incessant since England arrived at the beginning of the week and more is expected. Given the uncertainty regarding play, the odds on England winning the series have shortened and are now 3/16, with a drawn series being offered at 11/4.