Alastair Cook revealed a “kick up the arse” from England’s head coach, Trevor Bayliss, was behind the inspired afternoon at the Wanderers in which Stuart Broad gutted South Africa’s batting line-up for a series win.
Coming out after lunch with South Africa 16 for no loss, Cook’s side had the words of the Australian ringing in their ears, ordering them to seize the opportunity to go 2-0 up with one Test remaining.
Cook, who has become the first Test captain to oversee away series wins in India and now South Africa, said: “I’m looking forward to getting into the changing room to spend some time with a group of guys who’ve done something very special.
“Trev gave us a kick up the arse at lunch. I think rather than sulking about it the lads looked at themselves, led by Broady. There was a real intensity in the field for that two-hour session.
“He’s a guy that doesn’t say too much but he said ‘You don’t know if you’re going to take your chance or not, but there is a chance out there if someone is willing to step up. You don’t want to be sat at the end of the day wishing you’d given a bit more.’ It seemed to work, so well done Trevor.”
Broad was that someone, with his six for 17 taking him to 330 Test wickets in 90 matches and moving him to third in England’s all-time list after going past the 325 taken by Bob Willis, with just Ian Botham and James Anderson now ahead of him.
“It is an honour to have gone past Bob,” said Broad. “And any time you win a Test match anywhere it is special, but away from home is particularly special.
“It is always a test of a cricketer to be able to perform in different conditions and for Cooky and I to beat South Africa for the first time in a Test series and to do it away from home is very special.
“It probably doesn’t quite match up to [taking eight for 15 against Australia last summer] that was something else, but any Test victory you hold tightly because they are very hard to come by.”
Broad sensed he was on a roll early in South Africa’s innings, having learned from a disappointing performance in the first innings after he had been troubled by the effects of a stomach virus.
“I felt in really good rhythm today, for sure. I was frustrated from the first innings, I was a little bit ill, I didn’t bowl very well and when you’ve got a wicket that is moving I almost put it there expecting things to happen.
“I learned from that and I wanted to run in and bowl quickly and hit the deck really hard. A bit of experience tells you now is the time to step up and make something happen. It was a fantastic deck to bowl on but as a group we applied pressure and got the result.”
South Africa’s captain, AB de Villiers, was left to reflect on defeat in his first Test in charge but maintained he remains committed to playing Test cricket for his country after spending the build-up to the match discussing the need to reduce his international workload but play more domestic Twenty20 cricket.
He said: “That’s some of the best bowling I have faced. The conditions suited England but they asked questions throughout. The ball was moving, they showed good skill and you have to give credit.
“We are not the same side any more, there are lots of different players now. We are still up there [in the rankings] but that means nothing. Our form has been poor and it will take something special to turn it around.”
On his future, the 31-year-old said: “I was never thinking of leaving Test cricket at all, I’m just trying to find a way to rest in the year. Lots of thoughts have crossed my mind. I have to find a balance with my cricket to keep my fight and skill level up.”
