The Proteas Cricket squad selections for the upcoming Test series against England have left many questioning if the selectors are aware as to what their best Test eleven is.
South Africa’s fast bowling stocks remain a strength and all their front-line seamers have been passed fit for the Boxing Day Test in Durban, with only back-up seamer Wayne Parnell failing his fitness test after a foot injury. He should be available for selection for the New Year Test in Cape Town if required. We can expect Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel to form the nucleus of the South African pace attack during this series, with the likes of Kyle Abbott, Parnell and hot prospect Kagiso Rabada sharing back-up seamer dutie. Vernon Philander is currently injured, but could return in time for the third match in the series.
Proteas Cricket Squad Selections Questioned
Interesting exclusions from the Test squad have been veteran leg-spinner Imran Tahir and off-spinner Simon Harmer. The writing was probably on the wall for Tahir during the recent tour of India, with captain Hashim Amla appearing to become reluctant to bowl him in long spells. Tahir did take 5 for 38 in Nagpur and 4 for 48 in Mohali. In Delhi, he only managed two wickets across both of India’s innings and no wickets in the rained out second Test. This certainly does not represent an abject failure on his behalf, but the Proteas brains trust probably expected more from a wrist spinner in spin-friendly conditions and he was certainly not in the class of India’s Ashwin and Jadeja.
Simon Harmer seems to be destined to become the ‘nearly man’ of South African spin bowling; he will put in an adequate performance when selected, but he has spent the early part of his career in Tahir’s shadow and now, despite Tahir being overlooked, he remains second-in-line behind the younger and very promising Dane Piedt.
In his five Test matches to date, Harmer has taken 20 wickets at an average of 29.4 and an economy of 3.07. Young Dane Piedt just seems to have a bit extra about him though, and is selected on promise alone. He has only played two Tests, but boasts a return of 12 wickets at an average of 26.8 and an economy of 3.06. What is of particular interest for a finger spinner is the strike rate of 52.5. It is still very early days to make a definitive call, but with guidance and patience he should nail the spinner spot down for a long time to come.
The weather conditions in South Africa have been extraordinarily dry and hot during the current summer, conditions which are predicted to last until the end of March. It would be folly to select an all seam attack as even the most juicy green-top will be dry with widening cracks come the fifth day, especially for the Tests at the Wanderers and Centurion Park. These are not necessarily known turning pitches, but given the long standing heatwave conditions we can expect the pitches to dry out fast and to deteriorate.
What will be of particular concern to all Proteas cricket fans though will be the batting line-up. Batting was of particular concern in India, with the South Africans unable to produce an innings of more than 200 runs in the entire series. The top and middle order failed, but come Durban it would be surprising to see the likes of Amla, Faf du Plessis and AB de Villiers and JP Duminy continue to fail. Dean Elgar has done enough to warrant further time in the side. He had a horror run in his early Test career and his batting average of 34.46 is not indicative of his abilities. He has found his rightful place as an opener and he will continue build on that average.
There are issues at two spots in the Proteas batting line-up though, being Elgar’s opening partner and the late middle-order/wicket-keeper position. AB de Villiers will be donning the gloves again, and the experiment of batting wicket-keeper Dane Villas in a position at least one higher than he is equipped to handle is over.
The opening spot was particularly problematic in India, with Temba Bavuma taking a turn in the position despite not featuring there in domestic cricket. This was after original opener Stiaan van Zyl’s footwork was exposed as not suited to the opening position. His habit of pushing his right foot straight down the pitch has seen him targeted by seamers and off-spinners alike. It may be of use for him to develop his batting technique further and iron out the footwork issues in the lower middle-order. Oddly enough, van Zyl’s footwork is drawing a lot of attention, and yet he is still in the squad. Young Quinton de Kock was dropped from the squad for the very same reason.
It is very difficult to read what coach Russel Domingo and the selection panel will do come the morning of the first Test. They may go for van Zyl as either an opener or in the middle order, with Temba Bavuma being used in the position that van Zyl does not fill, despite both of them not really being suited to opening.
The alternative would be to hand Rilee Rossouw a debut in the opening berth and to use either Bavuma or Van Zyl in the late middle order. If the selectors were to go with this option, they would need to decide on who is best equipped in the position.
Bavuma has played five Tests and averages 27 with a high score of 54. In first-class cricket he averages 38.6 with a high score of 162. Van Zyl, meanwhile, has played in eight Tests and averages 35.75 with a highest score of 101*. In first-class cricket, he averages 44.46 with a high score of 172. Rossouw has only featured in ODI’s and T20’s, mostly opening or at number three. His first-class record has produced an average of 44.83 with a highest score of 319. He is coming off a stress injury to his foot but has been passed fit to play, so should be in the frame when the selectors start to write names down on the team sheets.
This incoming England tour should prove to be very interesting, with the Proteas back-up seamers, spinner and at least two batsmen being given an opportunity to cement their places going forward. The squad listed below was announced for the first two Tests and it will be very interesting to see if the selectors deem it fit to bring in players from outside of these thirteen to do battle with England.
South Africa squad for first two Tests: Hashim Amla, AB de Villiers, Kyle Abbott, Temba Bavuma, JP Duminy, Faf du Plessis, Dean Elgar, Morne Morkel, Dane Piedtl, Kagiso Rabada, Rilee Rossouw, Dale Steyn and Stiaan van Zyl.
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