Flintoff Brings Relief As Bowlers Feel the Pressure

Bowlers feel pressure too, especially when the conditions are supposed to favor them. For example, most spinners have experienced the mumbles from team-mates frustrated in the field: "Well, their spinner was turning it miles."

Tension increases within the bowler, upon whom mighty expectations rest. Suddenly the damn thing won't turn or swing. The flak starts to fly. Sometimes even the umpires find it unable to keep quiet.

Years ago I was bowling on a helpful pitch at the end where David Halfyard was umpiring. Now Halfyard took a haul of wickets in his career for Kent and Nottinghamshire in the 60s and 70s and latterly for Cornwall. He ended up bowling canny leg cutters and then wrist spinners and took his quota of wickets on turning pitches. Anyway, as I was toiling away without much success, Halfyard could contain himself no longer. Eventually he turned to me, saying: "What the devil are you doing? I would have bowled 'em out by now" - just what was needed as team-mates were starting to wonder out loud whether their spinner would ever do the business.

Which takes us back to Edgbaston. England, in the mire, had a real opportunity to claw their way back into the game this morning. It was humid; dank clouds hovered over the ground. It was bound to swing. And it did swing. Yet could the swing bowlers deliver? No, only the brute strength and force of personality of Andrew Flintoff, a brilliant lone beacon, enabled England to make any progress yesterday.

Poor James Anderson was the main culprit in the morning. Up he trotted to Neil McKenzie; he propelled the ball; it swung. But it started a foot outside of off-stump and continued upon its harmless way towards the slip cordon. McKenzie, of course, was happy to watch the swinging ball pass by. I'm sure that the umpires Dar and Davis kept their mouths shut. Neither were swing bowlers in their youth. But had a Bill Alley or a Cec Pepper from days gone by been umpiring they surely could not have resisted a "I'd have bowled 'em out by now".

Every run, every maiden was like gold-dust for South Africa in these conditions. The ball was steadily softening; Flintoff's fuel was being used up and still South Africa's big guns were in the pavilion. It is frightening how rapidly since his return Flintoff has become England's best bowler.

After lunch Anderson produced one moment of magic to dismiss Hashim Amla. Yet South Africa's professionalism prevailed. They would give nothing away. As at Headingley they would try to bide their time and grind England down. They took satisfaction in the skillful leave and waited for the rank bad ball. Only the inspirational Flintoff stood between the South Africans and a series victory.

It was a treat to witness a frothing Flintoff back in the fray. Even so, the difference between England's 2008 tourists has been being highlighted. England could stumble against the Kiwis and were strong enough to regroup and win. But give this South African side a chance and they do not look as if they will allow the opposition back into the game, however fired up Flintoff may be.