It's a washout for England

David Lloyd|Evening Standard|In Pretoria

14 April 2012

Jon Lewis is tantalisingly close to making a dream debut for England.

The 29-year-old Gloucestershire seamer had to watch, along with everyone else, as the Centurion Park weather curse washed out day one of the Fifth and final Test against South Africa.

But, come tomorrow and provided the rain stays away, Lewis has a good chance of stepping straight into Michael Vaughan's side as England try to win their first series here for 40 years.

He only arrived in South Africa on Monday, having been summoned from the Academy training camp at Loughborough because of injury concerns over Steve Harmison and Andrew Flintoff.

But now, even though both Harmison and Flintoff have been passed fit to play, there is a growing feeling that Lewis could be the ideal man to exploit typically English conditions.

The Centurion Park pitch is green - just like one of those often seen at Bristol - the atmosphere will remain damp and the new recruit has already been named in a squad of 13.

If he plays, it is likely to be ahead of Jimmy Anderson and Simon Jones. That could be a controversial decision, given those two were original selections for this tour while Lewis was only on standby, but if captain Vaughan and coach Duncan Fletcher believe 'needs must' then so be it.

"I'm just hoping and praying," said Lewis.

"With the conditions being English, the pitch looking a bit green and me being a reasonably English type bowler, there's a good chance I may get a game."

At one stage today it looked as though Lewis had been told he was playing.

But the drizzle, that came and went all day, returned once more and England never had to announce their XI.

Lewis took 57 first-class wickets for Gloucestershire last summer, but until now the only international recognition he has received was on an A tour of West Indies four years ago.

"I feel in really good shape," said Lewis. "If I play it will mean that all those overs I've bowled for Gloucestershire and all those hours I've spent in the gym would really mean something."

While Lewis waits and wonders, South Africa must be trying to work out what it is about England and Centurion Park.

The hosts boast an excellent record here, having won six of their eight matches on a ground that was opened in the mid 1990s. But every time England arrive, down comes the rain.

Their two Tests at Centurion Park - in 1995 and 2000 - produced little more than three days' play out of a possible 10 because of rain.

The first of those matches was drawn and the second would have been, but for Hansie Cronje's bookmaker-inspired declaration that resulted in an England win.

Even a draw would do England very nicely this time, of course. But Vaughan has insisted his team will not sit back on their 2-1 series lead.

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