SA openers blitz England attack

ENGLAND’S cricketing revival was brought to a shuddering halt at the start of the Test series with South Africa delivering a brilliant performance which firmly stamped their authority on the opening encounter at Edgbaston.

Lifted by their triumph over the tourists in the NatWest Series final at Lord's nearly two weeks ago and by stories of divisions within South Africa's dressing room, England entered the key part of their summer confident they could continue the feelgood factor currently running through the cricket community.

Yet despite England's apparent psychological advantage against a South Africa side struggling for form and without key all-rounder Jacques Kallis back in Cape Town mourning the recent death of father Henry it was the tourists who produced a record-breaking scoring frenzy.