LONDON, July 15: South Africa’s Neil McKenzie had a simple request for Proteas captain Graeme Smith come Friday’s second Test against England at Headingley: win the toss and bat.

McKenzie’s marathon 138 helped keep England in the field for more than 11 hours during South Africa’s second innings alone as the Proteas fought back to draw the first Test of this four-match series here at Lord’s.

Several England players were visibly tiring towards Monday’s close.

Left-arm quick Ryan Sidebottom had typically given his all while bowling with a back strain while his fellow seamer Stuart Broad appeared to turn an ankle.

Meanwhile, for the first time, England’s Monty Panesar bowled 60 overs in a Test innings and, to make matters worse for the left-arm spinner, he went wicketless in the process.

“If we win the toss, we bat,” said McKenzie. “It’s a long fielding session. All the England guys are professionals and they are fit lads. But I saw they started resting a few of the guys, they’ve all had a lot of overs.”

England captain Michael Vaughan, who could see the fit-again Andrew Flintoff return in Leeds, said: “Obviously, the bowlers will be a little bit weary but hopefully our backroom team can work their magic over the next few days and we’ll be fine for Friday.

“It’s a slight concern, but these guys are fit, they’ve done a lot of work pre-series.

“I wouldn’t say they want to go and bowl again tomorrow [Tuesday] but three days’ rest, ice baths and massage, I’m sure they will be fine and ready to go Friday morning.”

England piled up 593 for eight declared at Lord’s after Smith chose to field on winning the toss.

Man-of-the-Match Ian Bell made a Test-best 199, while South Africa-born Kevin Pietersen scored 152 in his first Test innings against the Proteas.

But despite making South Africa follow-on, after Panesar took four for 74 in a total of 247 featuring a century from Ashwell Prince, England managed just three more wickets.

As well as McKenzie, Smith (107) and Hashim Amla (104 not out) compiled second innings hundreds as the sixth successive Lord’s Test ended in a draw.

Panesar couldn’t contain his frustration and he was spoken to by Australian umpire Daryl Harper.

However, Vaughan said: “In the first innings, Monty got four [wickets]. I thought he bowled just as well in the second innings, without any reward.

“He got a little bit frustrated. But I think you can excuse him that. He’d just toiled for 60 overs in three days — and I had a word with Daryl afterwards, and he was fine.”

This was the first time since their re-admission to international cricket that South Africa had failed to win a Lord’s Test and McKenzie said: “We let ourselves down the first couple of days, at a ground where we’ve always done so well.”—AFP