A red haired James Anderson, James Kirtley’s debut, a fine all-round performance from Shaun Pollock and a nail-biting England victory - all features of the last time England and South Africa locked horns in a Test match at Trent Bridge.
The pair renew their rivalry in Nottingham when Test cricket makes its return on Friday 14 July with both sides looking to climb the ICC Test Rankings.
Back in August of 2003, the pair were battling out a hard fought series draw, with the Trent Bridge encounter part of a thrilling 2-2 series result between the two sides.
Trailing 1-0 after a second Test loss at Lord’s, England needed to avoid defeat to have any chance of winning the series.
Featuring two debutants in the shape of Kirtley and Ed Smith, it was two stalwarts of the side who ensured that the hosts posted an imposing total in their first innings.
With Marcus Trescothick and Michael Vaughan falling cheaply on the first morning, Mark Butcher and Nasser Hussain put the South African bowlers to the sword.
The experienced duo put on a 191-run third-wicket partnership, as their right-hand/left-hand combination successfully prevented the visiting attack from settling.
Butcher was the first to fall, to Makhaya Ntini for 106, but former captain Hussain found vital support in Smith (64) to lift the England score up to 322, before the centurion was dismissed for 116.
Alec Stewart, as he so often did from the middle-order during the latter stages of his career, added a half-century of his own, as England posted 445.
In reply, South Africa's Neil McKenzie marshalled the lower order, ably assisted by Pollock.
Whilst none of the Proteas’ batsmen managed a century, McKenzie’s 90, coupled with Pollock’s 62, decent contributions from the top order and a dogged 48 from Mark Boucher left the visitors trailing by 83 after the first knock, all out for 362.
James Anderson, who has gone on to enjoy a splendid record at Trent Bridge, weighed in with his first five-wicket haul at the ground and the second of his early career.
Pollock then turned his attention to his stronger discipline, ripping through the England batting line up to set South Africa on course for an unlikely victory. The all-rounder’s accuracy caused severe problems for the English batsmen on his way to figures of 6-39.
England had been skittled second time around for just 118 and with a chase of 200 in their sights, South Africa were looking to take an unassailable 2-0 lead to Headingley.
However, Kirtley raised the bar in the final innings. With the pitch breaking up and the ball swinging, the Sussex seamer was in his element.
Kirtley’s figures of 6-34 from 16.2 overs sent South Africa spiralling to a total of 130, Boucher (52) the only batsmen to pass 30 before he was last out; handing England a thrilling 70-run triumph.
England return to Trent Bridge in 2017 to face South Africa and the West Indies. With tickets now on general sale, don't miss the chance to see some of the most exciting sides in world cricket go toe-to-toe in the unique surroundings of Trent Bridge.