JOHANNESBURG // Just one second can sometimes change a series. The crucial moment in this one may well have come at exactly 10.30am local time yesterday, with the first ball of the fourth Test. Facing Dale Steyn, Andrew Strauss confidently nudged the ball off his legs. Given the smooth connection, the England captain must have thought he would pick up a boundary. Instead Hashim Amla leapt at backward short leg to claim the most incredible of one-handed catches. England never recovered, firstly slumping to 39 for four, and then 180 all out as Steyn (five for 51) and Morne Morkel (three for 39) did the damage, before South Africa closed at 29 without loss, trailing by just 151 runs. Under overcast conditions on a pitch offering movement, Strauss bravely decided to bat first - but he must have regretted that decision immediately when he became the first Englishman since 1936 to depart to the very first ball of a Test match.
Jonathan Trott scratched around before falling plumb lbw to Morkel for just five, attempting an expansive drive. And after a similarly scratchy knock to his fellow South Africa-born teammate, Kevin Pietersen was next to go. The out-of-form No 4 managed just seven before pulling Morkel to debutant Wayne Parnell at mid-on. Opener Alastair Cook was then dismissed in farcical circumstances for 21. Tony Hill gave the Essex opener out lbw but England referred it to TV umpire Daryl Harper. Replays suggested that Morkel had overstepped but Harper refused to overturn Hill's decision to England's obvious anger in the dressing room. Ian Bell joined Paul Collingwood at the crease and just like they had done last week in Cape Town, the pair mounted something of a recovery. At Newlands, Collingwood's only goal was blocking, but here he launched a fine counter attack.
The England No 5 played Steyn down the ground before Parnell and fellow debutant Ryan McLaren came on for their first bowls in Test cricket. Both struggled to threaten as South Africa lost their momentum - Collingwood only too happy to time McLaren down the ground to the boundary before Bell drove Parnell through the covers. Collingwood was in the mood to attack and he hooked Parnell for a six over square leg repeating the trick to Kallis in the final ball before lunch. England had recovered to 100 for four by that point but Collingwood departed soon after lunch, to hand McLaren a first Test wicket. The Durham man fell three shy of his fifty to end a partnership of 76 with Bell, after getting a leading edge to JP Duminy. It was the Steyn show after that as the South African quick proved just why he is the world's No 1 Test bowler. After bowling magnificently in Cape Town without much reward, Steyn picked up Bell (35) with an absolute beauty with a ball that nipped back off the pitch. Matt Prior was the next Steyn victim, gloving behind to Boucher, for 14. Stuart Broad came in and threw the bat to Kallis before the all-rounder got his revenge with Broad striking loosely to Morkel at mid-on. Ryan Sidebottom, preferred in the side to Graham Onions, then nicked to Boucher for a duck to give Steyn a fourth wicket. And Steyn's fifth arrived to complete the innings when Graeme Swann edged to Boucher after an attacking 27 from the England spinner. Graeme Smith (12 not out) and Ashwell Prince (15 not out) calmly added 29 - either side of an hour-and-a-half rain delay - before bad light finally ended play. The Proteas now have a huge chance of squaring the series but on a pitch that is expected to offer plenty for the bowlers throughout, England may still have dreams of yet another rescue act. Former England player Graham Thorpe has been appointed batting coach of the second-string England Lions team for next month's tour of the United Arab Emirates. Thorpe links up with a coaching team who include England performance director David Parsons and lead fast bowling coach Kevin Shine. @Email:sports@thenational.ae
England: Andrew Strauss c Amla b Steyn 0 Alastair Cook lbw Morkel 21 Jonathan Trott lbw Morkel 5 Kevin Pietersen c Parnell b Morkel 7 Paul Collingwood c Duminy b McLaren 47 Ian Bell b Steyn 35 Matt Prior c Boucher b Steyn 14 Stuart Broad c Morkel b Kallis 13 Graeme Swann c Boucher b Steyn 27 Ryan Sidebottom c Boucher b Steyn 0 James Anderson not out 6 Extras (2lb, 3w) 5 Total: (all out, 47.5 overs) 180 Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-7, 3-32, 4-39, 5-115, 6-133, 7-136, 8-148, 9-155. Bowling: Dale Steyn 13.5-1-51-5 (1w) Morne Morkel 11-1-39-3 (2w) Ryan McLaren 10-3-30-1 Wayne Parnell 3-0-18-0 Jacques Kallis 10-3-40-1. South Africa: Graeme Smith batting 12 Ashwell Prince batting 15 Extras (1b, 1nb) 2 Total: (for no loss, 12 overs) 29 Bowling: James Anderson 6-2-14-0 (1nb) Ryan Sidebotton 6-2-14-0
