A high-flying England will be the litmus test for a Proteas outfit that has – to this point in the ICC World T20 – blown hot and cold.
The unbridled joy Proteas’ fans derived from watching Kagiso Rabada rip the heart out of the Bangladesh batting line-up was an undoubted highlight of the tournament. That the Proteas blew the Tigers of Bangladesh away for just 84 must’ve filled players and fans alike with satisfaction and a measure of relief, knowing all too well what a tricky proposition the subcontinental outfit can be on their day.
But as far as the Big Cats in Pool 1 go, it is the Three Lions of England who will present the greatest obstacle as the Proteas continue their quest for ICC silverware. They have after all won four out of four matches with their narrowest margin of victory a 29-run win over Sri Lanka in their most recent outing.
The best illustration of their might in this tournament was in their annihilation of Australia. Each of the six English bowlers used in that game got amongst the wickets with Chris Jordan the best of the lot as he picked up three wickets at a cost of just 17 runs. The Aussies did manage to put Tymal Mills to the sword – plundering 45 runs off his bowling – to add respectability to an otherwise mediocre display.
The English boast enviable batting firepower. Jos Buttler cracked an unbeaten 71 against Oz highlighted by five fours and as many maximums as England reached their target inside 12 overs.
Even more impressive was Buttler’s imperious 101* off just 67 during which he carted the Sri Lankan bowlers to all parts of the Sharjah Cricket Stadium – registering six fours and six sixes.
What’s concerning is that it isn’t just Buttler, Roy, Livingstone or Morgan who can just as easily take the game away from South Africa or any opposition for that matter.
What is so impressive about the English is there is no readily apparent weakness within their team. One senses that even if one or two bowlers take a pasting, the rest of the attack has it in them to pick up the slack. So too the batting-order who from Buttler to Chris Woakes can strike those lusty blows that get the job done for their side.
I’ll refrain from rehashing our own form in the event to this point. But I will say this: We too boast the firepower within our line-up to make the opposition chase leather. And while we have seen flashes of brilliance with the bat at various junctures this tournament, we are still awaiting that complete batting performance.
Is there a better time to peak than against a much-vaunted English side at a major sporting event?
The Springboks managed it in 2019 so why not the Proteas in 2021?
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Photo: EPA/DAVID GRAY
