Comment by Ongama Gcwabe
LOOKING back at South Africa’s last five Test series – against England, Australia, West Indies, India and New Zealand – the weak link in the team has undoubtedly been the batting department.
In this period, the Proteas have scored only one 400-plus total in 12 matches and 20 innings over a two-year period.
Given that the last five years have seen established Test batters including Hashim Amla, Faf du Plessis, Quinton de Kock and Dean Elgar retire, one could be lenient and say the Test team are in a rebuilding phase, hence the struggles in putting together the big scores that are associated with a Proteas Test batting line-up.
Furthermore, the team have had many batters debut, struggle and get dropped from the Test side, including Rassie van der Dussen, Keegan Petersen and Khaya Zondo, to name a few, which further highlights the instability of the Test batting unit.
Taking this into account, it is easy to understand why coach Shukri Conrad and captain Temba Bavuma have opted to boost the batting order for the first Test against the West Indies, which started yesterday at Queen’s Park Oval in Trinidad, with seven batters and an extra batting all-rounder in Wiaan Mulder coming in at No 8.
Primed and ready! 👊
The excitement is rising ahead of the first test match against West Indies! 🔥#WozaNawe #BePartOfIt#SAvWI pic.twitter.com/FmuOYThPey
After all, we are talking about a side that has only two batters, Bavuma and Aiden Markram, in the top seven who have experience, and even in that case, Markram’s 38 Tests still make him a somewhat junior batter on the bigger scale of things.
Who wouldn’t look to lengthen the batting order as much as possible, given the current state of the batting stocks in the Test team?
Moreover, many believe this has compromised the bowling attack, as there are only three front-line bowlers in the playing XI: fast bowlers Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi, operating in tandem with spinner Keshav Maharaj.
However, the class and quality of this bowling trio does allow the coach and captain to slot in an all-rounder with the bowling credentials that Mulder has in his Test career.
Temba at the Toss 🪙
Our test captain took to the pitch earlier for the toss!
Have a look with us. 👀#WozaNawe #BePartOfIt#SAvWI pic.twitter.com/lS8h4DBlIm
Mulder might have had a horrid Test introduction with bat in hand, but a bowling average of 27 and his ability to make the ball talk makes him a good enough seamer, especially against a West Indies batting line-up that has been struggling.
Perhaps the only omission that leaves questions is that of left-arm paceman Nandré Burger, the only bowler in the Caribbean besides Rabada who is able to generate speeds upwards of 145km/h.
After all, it was clear that in last month’s England versus West Indies series, the Windies batters had no answers for express pace as England quick Gus Atkinson picked up 22 wickets during the three-match series and won the Player of the Series award.
Rain has forced an early lunch in the first Test between the West Indies and South Africa in Port of Spain.
— SuperSport 🏆 (@SuperSportTV) August 7, 2024
Aiden Markram was dismissed for 9 by this beautiful delivery from Jason Holder 👇
#WIvSA pic.twitter.com/b1CkkFFoz4
* Meanwhile, Cricket SA announced their nominees yesterday for their annual awards, with the event due to take place on September 5 at Vodaworld in Midrand.
Selected Nominees
Men’s Newcomer of the Year: David Bedingham, Nandré Burger
Men’s T20I Player: Gerald Coetzee, Reeza Hendricks, Aiden Markram, Lizaad Williams
Men’s ODI Player: Gerald Coetzee, Quinton de Kock, Marco Jansen, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram
Men’s Test Player: David Bedingham, Nandré Burger, Dean Elgar
Men’s Player of the Year: Gerald Coetzee, Quinton de Kock, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada
Women’s T20 Player: Tazmin Brits, Nadine de Klerk, Masabata Klaas, Laura Wolvaardt
Women’s ODI Player: Tazmin Brits, Nadine de Klerk, Marizanne Kapp, Ayabonga Khaka, Laura Wolvaardt
Women’s Player of the Year: Nadine de Klerk, Marizanne Kapp, Masabata Klaas, Laura Wolvaardt