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The word that sprung to mind watching South Africa’s 2012 win at the Oval against England was 'clinical'.
The one thing that was evident to me was the the South African batters adaption their individual games in order to counteract England’s spin talisman, Graeme Swann. Here are the tactics they used so well, and what the off-spinner could have done to prevent their success.
Get outside the line of off stump
Graeme Smith moved himself onto an off-stump guard, aiming to make contact with the ball with either bat or pad outside the line of off-stump.
Swann has dominated left-handers for the past 3 years by pitching the ball on off stump and bringing LBW’s and Bowled dismissals into play more than any other spin bowler in recent times.
Smith was able to use this starting position in conjunction with his strong leg side preference to push the ball into gaps in front and behind square on the leg side. Swann rarely bowled enough balls at the South African captain to put him under sustained pressure.
Learn from the other guy
Hashim Amla continued his great form with a career best 311 not out. He followed his captain and got himself outside the line of off stump to intercept Graham Swann and keep DRS from having an impact on the game.
This also suited Amla as his legside game is strong and his wrists enable him to tuck the ball past short leg and in front of square to pick up regular runs.
The only time Swann countered this tactic was when he bowled around the wicket at Amla, who then sat back on his stumps and used the slowness of the pitch to great effect, waiting for Swann to lose patience.
What can the off spinner do?
Shift in Line: With the LBW being taken out of the equation by left-handed Smith, Swann needed to bring his slip and off side fielders into play earlier. He shifted his plan to Smith when he was on 90 and by that time it was too late. The South African Captain could adapt easily, as he was set and on the brink of a 100.
On reflection, I am sure that Swann would have shifted his line earlier, bought the little rough outside of off stump into play earlier and asked the left-hander to hit through his less favoured off side.
Slow his pace down: The pitch was very dry and abrasive, we could see that from the reverse swing that Dale Steyn was able to get early in each innings.
Spinners need to bowl the ball slower on dry surfaces in order to keep the ball on the surface for longer, thus allowing the revolutions to take effect and the ball to break.
Swann operated around 52-54 mph for most of the Test and did not get the big spin that the slower Tahir was able to extract later in the game. Swann spins the ball at 2000-2200 rpm, yet those revolutions were unable to take effect because of the pace of the ball when it hit the playing surface.
Change the angle to the right-handers: It was good to see Swann bowl from around the wicket at Amla with 2 slips in place, but can this be done earlier next time round? It brings the LBW back into play as well as both sides of the bat thus increasing the wicket-taking threat. This tactic is especially good when there is still some hardness in the ball as the bounce keeps the slips in the game. This may be a good tactic on the less spin friendly Headingley wicket next time out
Are there things in here that you can apply to your team's batting and bowling games when the time is right and the challenge of the game or surface allows?
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Menno Gazendam, author of the popular 
