2oceansvibe’s bi-weekly sports columnist, Sean Wilson, considers the odds of whether or not the Proteas will be able to end another jinx that has been plaguing the team in recent times: whether we can win the second test of a series.

In the first test of the series currently underway against England, South Africa broke the hoodoo that the Oval had on them, and won there. Who will ever forget Hashim Amla’s magnificent performance? Now in the second test at Headingley, they have an opportunity to end another jinx that has been plaguing the team in recent times: to win the second test of a series.

Ever since South Africa’s series-clinching win in the second test against Australia in late 2008, South Africa’s overall series record for winning second tests has been abysmal.

They won the last second test they played in a series against New Zealand in a match that ended an 8-game statistical drought. Now the team must show that this wasn’t a once-off performance, and that the general malaise that follows after the first test is but a thing of the past.

To illustrate, here is a breakdown of South Africa’s overall record since the beginning of 2009.

South Africa’s record in second tests since 2009:

• Played 9 Won 1 (11%) Drawn 2 (22%) Lost 6 (66%)

South Africa’s record in all other tests since 2009:

• Played 18 Won 10 (56%) Drawn 6 (33%) Lost 2 (11%)

In this period, they have played test matches against all of the test playing nations apart from the lowly ranked Zimbabwe and Bangladesh.

We all remember that famous Boxing Day test in Australia where South Africa was in deep trouble: JP Duminy batted to a miraculous century in only his second test. Dale Steyn hung around with him in a memorable partnership along with taking 10 wickets in the match, and the target was calmly chased down for a 9-wicket win.

That match, and the series, has been marked as the apex of modern South African test greatness. The team looked destined to become the official World #1, and a few months later it was confirmed in 2009.

Sadly, we all know that they were unable to maintain their lofty position.

It’s become clichéd sporting knowledge that getting to the top of the rankings is much easier than staying there. A combination of the opposition being more motivated to beat you as well as giving you more attention makes dominating any given sport much harder than merely making a guest appearance at the top of the pile.

But, South Africa was unable to fulfil their potential of staying at the top of the rankings for long. If they had managed a better record in the second test match of each series, they surely would’ve stayed there for longer, maybe they would still be there?

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