Dream debut for Pietersen as England hit back in style
Harmison praises skipper as shell shocked Proteas are put to the sword
Recalled Steve Harmison heaped praise on Kevin Pietersen after the new England captain enjoyed a dream debut in charge at The Oval yesterday.
Fired-up England responded to a passionate Pietersen team talk with a superb bowling and fielding performance to skittle out the tourists for just 194. They then replied with 49-1 at the close to put themselves in full control of this fourth and final Test.
Harmison, playing in his first Test since March, played a prominent role in England’s attack, taking two wickets in as many balls as the hosts fought back after lunch with the Proteas slumping from a comfortable 103-1.
And it was also a day to remember for fellow pace man James Anderson, who claimed 3-42 including his 100th Test wicket.
But all the talk was centred around Pietersen, whose appointment had lifted his troops to, arguably, their most productive day of the entire series.
“There was one leader which was Kevin (Pietersen) but the rest of us tried to lift our games,” Harmison said afterwards. “It was a great team effort and a special day for Kevin.” Harmison gave England the best possible start to the day when forcing South Africa captain Graeme Smith to edge to gully with the very first ball of the innings, only for Alastair Cook to put the chance down.
Harmison, however, bowled with pace and accuracy and finally got his reward when snaring Smith for 46 with Anderson taking the catch at fine leg. Then, after the batsmen crossed, Harmison produced the ball of the day by quite brilliantly uprooted Hashim Amla’s middle stump with a magnificent 93mph yorker.
Anderson then took over with a blistering spell of his own to skittle Jacques Kallis (2), Ashwell Prince (4) and Mark Boucher (3) cheaply as England took full control.
Stuart Broad recovered from an expensive spell to take two late wickets, before spinner Monty Panesar ripped through the tail with two more, including the wicket of dangerman AB de Villers for 39.
England’s response started badly when Andrew Strauss holed out to Makaya Ntini for six in the fourth over, but Cook (20no) and Ian Bell (22no) regained their composure to put the hosts in a commanding position.