da dobrowin： The moods of Mark Butcher and Graeme Smith told a tale of two teams as they addressed the media at the end of the third day’s play at Port Elizabeth
Andrew Miller in Port Elizabeth19-Dec-2004
Makhaya Ntini took the wicket of Mark Butcher, among others, to heap on misery for England in the third day’s play© Getty Images
Mark Butcher was a disappointed man at the close of the third day’s play atPort Elizabeth, after watching his side squander a considerable overnightadvantage to leave the first Test hanging delicately in the balance. Bythe close, South Africa were effectively 11 for 2 with two intriguing days’play in prospect.Butcher’s own contribution was a gutsy 79, but his dismissal precipitated adramatic middle-order collapse, as four wickets tumbled for 12 runs in 15balls. “I’m disappointed not to have got more,” he admitted at the close.”There was a hundred begging to be taken out there, not just from my pointof view, but from the team’s as well, because we wanted to still be battinggoing into tomorrow. My concentration had been really good, but all ittakes is one ball and then you’re out.”Butcher had not played for England since the third Test against New Zealandin June, and after his double failure in the warm-up match atPotchefstroom, he admitted he had been more nervous going into this gamethan ever before – hence the attritional approach to his innings. “I felt Ineeded to get in,” he explained. “If I’d got out swishing then everyonewould have been on my back about it. I took the get-myself-in route.”Ultimately, he took the get-myself-out route as well, as he inside-edged alifter from Ntini, to cue the collapse. But he remained optimistic thatEngland could dig themselves out of trouble, on the evidence of the cricketthey have played over the past year. “Prior to the last 12 months, you’dhave to say our main chance of victory had gone,” he said. “But my onlyregret is that we could have made it easier for ourselves. Instead it’smore interesting for everyone else.””Without a doubt we’ve missed the boat, but the wicket shouldn’t beterrible to bat on – it’s keeping a bit low but there’s no sign of anyballs doing the reverse and leaping at us. History suggests that anythingabout 300 or 320 will be difficult to chase . but not impossible.”Graeme Smith, by contrast, was a contented captain at the close, despite aharum-scarum half-hour at the end of England’s innings, when Simon Jonesand Steve Harmison gave his fielders and bowlers the run-around. “Thetemper was working up inside me,” he admitted, “but we did so well in theday that I’ve had taken that position at the start of play. It’s always abit chaotic when tailenders are batting. Normal things just don’t happen.”It’s certainly a lot more interesting than last night,” added Smith. “Wedidn’t bowl well yesterday, so it was important to use the new ball well,and those two early wickets with the old ball were crucial. I was impressedwith the way the guys came back today.”One of those early wickets was taken by Smith himself – his fourth inTests. He bowled Graham Thorpe round his legs for 4 with his part-timeoffbreaks, and could well have a major role to play in the fourth innings.”It’s taking a bit of turn,” agreed Smith, “and they’ve got a lot ofleft-handers, so my role could be more important than at the start of Test.I was very excited to dismiss Thorpe – every Test wicket I take is a hugebonus.”The star of South Africa’s day, however, was Makhaya Ntini, who grabbedthree wickets in four balls to throw the game wide open. “Makhaya bowledsuperbly,” said Smith. “England were putting together a decent partnershipand both batsmen looked comfortable, but he got us on a roll and it wasgreat to see the effort he put in.””Any run-chase over 200 will be tough,” warned Smith, adding that hisovernight partnership with Jacques Kallis would be the clincher of theinnings. “We had our tough day up front, but England’s will come on thelast day. It is crucial that we focus and work hard tomorrow, because wemustn’t let them back in the door.”