A blog by Â(c)hinaman

A window in Edgbaston had given the English team an opportunity to win
and level the series.
Other than raising hopes earlier in the day, it did not stop the South African run-machines
Smith and Boucher from finishing the test in style for a test and series victory.

Reflections off a row of windows high above the sightscreen
were effectively hiding Flintoff’s straight yorkers.

A photograph from 2007,
the position of this testmatch sightscreen marked with a white square and the windows with a red arrow.

In the first innings

38.6 Flintoff to McKenzie, out Lbw!! Full and straight, angling into the right hander, McKenzie shuffles across a bit and looks to flick it away, rapped on the pads and that is plumb in front, Flintoff takes his 200th TEST WICKET!!! McKenzie lbw b Flintoff 72(126) <4s-12>

68.4 Flintoff to Kallis, out Bowled!! Twice in two overs, Flintoff bowls the yorker again, on the off and swinging away a touch, Kallis looks to keep it out, gets squared up and the off stump is o Kallis b Flintoff 64(114) <4s-9>

It is said the South Africans asked for a screen to guard the windows.
It was refused by Michael Vaughan, he wanted to take full advantage of the Flintoff delivery.

Today it was

17.3 Flintoff to McKenzie, out Lbw!! The short sightscreen works again, Flintoff fires in a yorker on the stumps, McKenzie doesn’t see it, he looks to duck, gets hit right on the shoes, plumb in front, Flintoff strikes McKenzie lbw b Flintoff 22(56) <4s-3>

25.5 Flintoff to Kallis, out Lbw!! Flintoff looks for the yorker again, this time it is a border line full toss, Kallis looks to duck, the same sightscreen stuff again, the ball hits him on the thighs, he is plumb in front, the finger goes up, South Africa are in trouble now Kallis lbw b Flintoff 5(7) <4s-1>

The big man tried and tried following his early ‘success’.
He went fuller and fuller to almost beam one to Boucher; but could do no more damage.
Perhaps the incident angle of the light had changed and there was no more friendly reflection.

Perhaps the match was destined for a South African win.
Perhaps Vaughan though refusing the extra screen would bring him victory, it didn’t.

As it was something in the stands that was affecting the batsmans’ sight of the ball,
it was a legitimate request – to refuse was not in the spirit of the game.
An opportunity missed to uphold fairplay.

One thing Vaugnan’s gesture was not, it was not cricket.

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