ACS Oveseas First-Class Annual 2013

It the first Test on the 2012 series, however, that had set the tone. England had led off with an apparently respectable 385, only to be answered by a crushing 637-2d. This was an assertion of unchallengeable authority, built around the monumental unbeaten 311 of H.M.Amla. In compiling his country’s first Test triple-hundred he never looked remotely troubled: yet this was not an innings plundered from the hapless bowlers of one of the lesser Test sides. It was taken off the world’s top-ranked side, at full strength, at home. Reference to the 2012 tour of England would be incomplete without mention of South Africa’s long-serving wicketkeeper, M.V.Boucher. In a practice match against Somerset, Boucher was standing up to the stumps when his left eyeball was lacerated by a bail sent flying by a googly by Imran Tahir. This shocking injury brought an instant end to a distinguished career in which Boucher had represented his country in 146 Tests since 1997/98, claiming 553 victims (530 ct, 23 st). He also appeared for the Rest in the so-called SuperTest of 2005/06, taking two catches. He is easily the most successful wicketkeeper in Test history (A.C.Gilchrist is next) and his total of Test caps for South Africa is exceeded only by J.H.Kallis. The loss of such a player might have disrupted many sides. Yet South Africa merely handed the gloves to A.B.de Villiers, already established in the side as a batsman. This must have been much to the chagrin of Boucher’s recognised deputy, T.L.Tsolekile, but the decision was vindicated by de Villiers’s excellence as ’keeper. With J.P.Duminy brought into the vacancy thereby created, South Africa looked stronger than ever. By the end of the 2012/13 season the only question about South Africa’s Test stature was not whether its top ranking was merited, for this was beyond doubt, but whether the side could go on to emulate the dominant position held by Australia for many years until about 2008, and before that by West Indies. Time will tell; but the omens appeared good. A mid-season wabble that resulted in two consecutive defeats did not prevent Cape Cobras from claiming the primary domestic tournament for the third time in four seasons. The team’s standout performance was perhaps that of the opening bowler J.Louw who, although now approaching the veteran stage, appeared in every match and bowled far more overs than anyone else to capture 45 wickets at a remarkable 17.82. Although Cape Cobras enjoyed a clear supremacy in terms of matches won, the tournament, renamed the Sunfoil Series as part of a sponsorship deal, was well-contested throughout; even Knights, in fifth place, could claim some extenuation in the complete abandonment of three of their first four matches as rain followed them around the country in the early part of the season. Titans, however, were afforded no such excuse: the defending champions finished resoundingly in last place without a win, and their eight defeats were all emphatic. The second-string competition for provincial sides was won by Gauteng. The most arresting individual performance, however, was by the 20-year-old fast bowler M.N.Piedt of South Western Districts, who exploded onto the scene by claiming an astonishing 7-6 in the second innings of his debut match, as Western Province were routed for 34. Proving this was no fluke, he went on to take 59 wickets in the competition at only 16.93. The 2012/13 Provincial Competition also featured the rarity of a first-class tie, as Border and Boland played a remarkably even game in which all four innings fell in the narrow range of 201 to 219 runs. Across the South African first-class season as a whole, the most prolific batsman was the Free State and Knights wicketkeeper, R.S.Second, who compiled 1,275 runs at 41.12 whilst also claiming 60 victims (58 ct, 2 st). H.E.van der Dussen of North West also exceeded a thousand runs in all matches (1,002 at 58.94). 392 South Africa in 2012/13