With less than a week to go till the Proteas lock horns with England, Mark Boucher has got his hands full in selecting the best team for Centurion, writes Alasdair Fraser.
Finally, we can start focusing on cricket after all the action and shenanigans that’s been going on in the boardroom and everywhere else but the cricket pitch.
England are here with a tour match under their belt and are currently doing battle against SA ‘A’.
The Proteas camp is already together and it’s encouraging to hear from Kagiso Rabada that everyone is on the same page.
Whether you like or dislike the new Proteas coaching regime, it’s here to stay for the meantime and the players are already responding. There has been a positive outlook – something we’ve been crying out for. There is a freshness in the team.
It’s perhaps fitting that Mark Boucher will start his tenure at the home of his former employers, the Titans. This is an unforeseen advantage going into the series and if there was ever a more important Test to win in this series, surely, it’s this one?
Conditions will suit the Proteas, who will likely go with a spinner in the mix.
Much of the debate surrounding team selection will no doubt hover over having five specialist bowlers.
We’ve seen the Proteas struggle before with just four bowlers and if someone gets a niggle or breaks down, I fear the worse. Even during the 2009/10 series, we lacked the final killer blow where the likes of Paul Collingwood and Graham Onions denied us wins at Centurion and Newlands.
Should Aiden Markram be fit I have no doubt he will partner Dean Elgar in seeing off the new ball. Zubayr Hamza is an absolute must and I expect the young man to build on his determined innings against India. The talent is there.
Faf at No 4 is an absolute must and he will have solid support with Rassie van der Dussen debuting and coming in at No 5. While many will favour Temba Bavuma, his injury will open the door for a genuine all-rounder, which I believe adds more value.
Dwaine Pretorius’ inclusion in the squad is just reward but I would like to see the inclusion of Andile Phehlukwayo in the starting lineup, given his standout performances during the rather dismal World Cup campaign earlier this year.
It would be a good idea, though, to include Pretorius as the all-important 12th man. He has been in supreme form with bat and ball and might be a key figure going forward.
Quinton de Kock at No 6 and Phehlukwayo at No 7 introduces a strong tail that sees the likes of Vernon Philander, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje.
It’s not a bad team – one that might surprise England and we could see the Proteas going into a new decade with a handy 1-0 lead at Newlands.
My team: Aiden Markram, Dean Elgar, Zubayr Hamza, Faf du Plessis (c), Rassie van der Dussen, Quinton de Kock (wk), Andile Phehlukwayo, Vernon Philander, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje.
12th man Dwaine Pretorius.
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