A good day for DRS
ESPNcricinfo presents the plays of the day from the second day at Headingley
George Dobell and Firdose Moonda at Headingley
03-Aug-2012
Kevin Pietersen's wicket was not all good news for England • PA Photos
Wicket of the Day
It took only two deliveries for Kevin Pietersen to show up the folly of England not selecting a specialist spinner for this Test. Pietersen, called into the attack to bowl his part-time offspin in the 111th over of the South African innings, turned his second ball sharply past the bat of Jacques Rudolph allowing Matt Prior to complete a stumping. Any English joy over making the breakthrough would have been tempered by the thought of what Graeme Swann, currently 12th in the ICC Test bowling rankings, might have been able to get out of the surface and the knowledge that South Africa's legspinner Imran Tahir may find conditions much to his liking. This is first Test since 2003 for which England had not selected a specialist spinner. On that occasion, they lost heavily to South Africa at Headingley
It took only two deliveries for Kevin Pietersen to show up the folly of England not selecting a specialist spinner for this Test. Pietersen, called into the attack to bowl his part-time offspin in the 111th over of the South African innings, turned his second ball sharply past the bat of Jacques Rudolph allowing Matt Prior to complete a stumping. Any English joy over making the breakthrough would have been tempered by the thought of what Graeme Swann, currently 12th in the ICC Test bowling rankings, might have been able to get out of the surface and the knowledge that South Africa's legspinner Imran Tahir may find conditions much to his liking. This is first Test since 2003 for which England had not selected a specialist spinner. On that occasion, they lost heavily to South Africa at Headingley
Error of the Day
Another reminder of the benefits of the Decision Review System was provided by Alviro Petersen's dismissal. Umpire Rod Tucker may well have been the only person on the ground who did not see the thick edge that Petersen got to a delivery from Stuart Broad, but England were able to call for a review and the original decision was overturned. It was - after two lbw decisions from Steve Davis - the third decision of Petersen's innings to be overturned
Another reminder of the benefits of the Decision Review System was provided by Alviro Petersen's dismissal. Umpire Rod Tucker may well have been the only person on the ground who did not see the thick edge that Petersen got to a delivery from Stuart Broad, but England were able to call for a review and the original decision was overturned. It was - after two lbw decisions from Steve Davis - the third decision of Petersen's innings to be overturned
Review of the Day
Petersen has been the subject of lbw reviews fairly often recently. In New Zealand, Ross Taylor asked for appeals against him to go upstairs twice (both of which were overturned) and Petersen himself reviewed being given out to Mark Gillespie once but his appeal was struck down. In this match though, Petersen did not allow being hit on the pads to get the better of him. Late on day one, Petersen reviewed when he was given out off Steven Finn and the DRS found the decision was incorrect because it was too high. Early on day two, Petersen reviewed again when given out off James Anderson. The technology showed it was missing leg stump and he survived again.
Petersen has been the subject of lbw reviews fairly often recently. In New Zealand, Ross Taylor asked for appeals against him to go upstairs twice (both of which were overturned) and Petersen himself reviewed being given out to Mark Gillespie once but his appeal was struck down. In this match though, Petersen did not allow being hit on the pads to get the better of him. Late on day one, Petersen reviewed when he was given out off Steven Finn and the DRS found the decision was incorrect because it was too high. Early on day two, Petersen reviewed again when given out off James Anderson. The technology showed it was missing leg stump and he survived again.
Shot of the Day
With South Africa's bowlers knowing they would have to pitch it up if they hoped to make early inroads, there was also the chance they would go for a few. Andrew Strauss made some of those few look better than anything this match has seen so far. While Petersen ground out 182 and JP Duminy went to 48 almost unnoticed, Strauss announced himself with two perfect straight drives, at either end of the ground. The first was off Vernon Philander as the England captain leaned into the shot and timed it down past mid-off. The second was even better, drilled past Dale Steyn with pinpoint placement to take Strauss above Len Hutton on the list of England's top run scorers in Test cricket.
With South Africa's bowlers knowing they would have to pitch it up if they hoped to make early inroads, there was also the chance they would go for a few. Andrew Strauss made some of those few look better than anything this match has seen so far. While Petersen ground out 182 and JP Duminy went to 48 almost unnoticed, Strauss announced himself with two perfect straight drives, at either end of the ground. The first was off Vernon Philander as the England captain leaned into the shot and timed it down past mid-off. The second was even better, drilled past Dale Steyn with pinpoint placement to take Strauss above Len Hutton on the list of England's top run scorers in Test cricket.