South Africa require a plan — not luck — to combat England’s ‘Bazball’ | Sport

The Test series has not even started and South Africa already face a tactical dilemma. Having had several weeks to reflect on how to deal with England’s new, ultra-aggressive style of play, their captain Dean Elgar and his players are determined to stick to a “steady-as-she-goes” policy when the three-Test series starts at Lord’s on Wednesday. Before leaving home last month, Elgar said it would be a “massive error” for his side to be drawn into the way that England play.

Elgar has since doubled down by suggesting — not unreasonably — that England might not have beaten New Zealand and India in the way they did had not the pitches been so good for batting and New Zealand squandered numerous catches. Had they taken