Filling the gaps in the Proteas’ top 6 based on the leading 4-Day Franchise series run-scorers during the period of 2016/17 to 20/21.

The Proteas Test XI is seriously bothering me. Particularly the batting lineup.

Considering that Dean Elgar, Faf du Plessis and Quinton de Kock are the only safe batsmen in the lineup, it should be easy to fill in the gaps. But every time I start writing down the names, my fingers start to shake around certain positions.

What I decided to do is look at the top run scorers in the 4-Day Series over a 5-season period from 2016/17 to 20/21.

Let’s start with the openers. Who should be Dean Elgar’s partner?

The Proteas brains-trust seem to have locked their sights on Aiden Markram, and although he has only played 18 matches (29 innings) for the Titans, he has racked up 1,616 runs at an average of 59,85 that includes six centuries and seven half-centuries. The 26-year-old also has already played 20 Test matches, which gives him the edge for selection.

So which player is next in line as the back up opener?

When you look at the table below, Eddie Moore is the top run-scorer with 2,957 runs at an average of 40.50.

Previously, Pieter Malan was selected as Markram’s replacement and when you look at his record according to the table below, his conversion rate is incredible with 9 centuries and 8 half-centuries, racking up 2,294 runs @ 46,81 in only 49 innings. The fact that he was given an opportunity against England, seemed as though he would be the logical choice as a backup.

The Proteas opted for Sarel Erwee, who has played 53 innings and averaged 41,15 during this period. Compared to Malan, he hasn’t been as effective with regards to converting his half-centuries to centuries, with 6 centuries and 13 half-centuries to his name.

Based on current form, they match each other with one century and two half-centuries, but Erwee’s 199 pushes his average a lot higher.

Dominic Hendricks, on current form, would have strongly raised his hand as a contender too.

Moving on to No 3, it gets tricky. Hashim Amla’s retirement has definitely left a gap in the top order. The selectors would have battled with rewarding consistency, considering age or rewarding current form.

Keegan Petersen, Zubayr Hamza and Raynard van Tonder seem to be the forerunners in this department. Hamza was given 5 Tests to prove himself, and now the Proteas have called-up Petersen which many fans have agreed with, while still citing that not selecting Hamza is harsh.

Instead of picking between the above mentioned, we have seen a cry out for 22-year-old Van Tonder, who has played for the Knights from 2018/19 to 2020/21. In this period he has 32 innings under his belt and has scored 1,707 runs at an average of 58.86 with four centuries and 10 half-centuries. It’s interesting to know that all 4 of these centuries were scored in Bloem.

Van Tonder was announced in the squad on Friday 18 December.

If you look at his runs scored compared to Hamza (46 innings), he is just 23 runs shy of him. This is largely due to Hamza’s struggles this season. Van Tonder has scored the majority of his runs at his home ground in Bloemfontein (3 matches out of 5), while Hamza has only played one game at home in five matches with the pressures of captaincy to deal with too.

But we could argue till we are blue in the face about who is better, but the selectors have chosen KP and Raynard Van Tonder as their choices.

ALSO READ: RAYNARD VAN TONDER DESERVES A SHOT AT THE TOP

Assuming that Faf du Plessis will be the Proteas’ No 5, where he’s batted for the majority of his career (56 innings out of 112), then there’s still a vacancy at No 4.

Van der Dussen has batted in this position for the majority of his Lions career in recent times, and according to the below table is the 4th highest run-getter during the given period.

His competition domestically has to be Theunis de Bruyn, who in 41 innings averages 54,30 with an excellent conversion rate of eight centuries and eight half-centuries. But seeing as De Bruyn was not called up to the squad, we can put RVDD at No 4 comfortably. (Unless De Kock drops the gloves and bats here 😜).

The Proteas have turned to Temba Bavuma at No 6 in 41 out of his 67 innings for the Proteas. With him being in the Test squad, it seems like the likely option; assuming that Quinton de Kock bats at No 7, where he has batted for 35 innings out of 80 innings.

Domestically the No 6 position goes to either Rudi Second or Kyle Verreynne who as wicket-keeper batsmen operated in the 5/6 position for their franchises in the majority of their matches. Seeing that Kyle is in the Test squad, we can rule out Rudi.

If you compare Bavuma’s Lions stats to Kyle’s, there is no doubt who has more experience. Bavuma has played 99 innings for the Lions, scored 3,738 runs at an average of 44.50 with nine centuries and 16 half-centuries. Majority of his time was spent with the Proteas during this particular 5-season period, where he averages 32.62 in 41 innings at the No 6 position.

Verreynne in 47 innings for the Cobras, has averaged over 50 with 2 centuries and 16 half-centuries (the same amount of half-tons as Bavuma in his 99-innings 4-Day career).

Now we know that other factors other than stats play a role in team selections. But I would like to know what your top 6 would be based on the stats given in the table below.

4-Day Franchise Series 2016/17 to 2020/21: Leading run-scorers
Name	M	Inns	NO	Runs	HS		Avg	SR	100	50
EM Moore	42	76	3	2957	228		40,50	55,41	7	15
RS Second	38	64	10	2776	203	*	51,40	56,67	7	13
VB van Jaarsveld	34	59	1	2599	203		44,81	66,23	7	15
HE van der Dussen	32	56	10	2456	175		53,39	52,83	6	14
MY Vallie	39	70	3	2444	150		36,47	55,69	3	19
PJ Malan	30	49	0	2294	195		46,81	46,44	9	8
KD Petersen	33	53	8	2233	173		49,62	52,77	6	10
SJ Erwee	29	53	1	2140	199		41,15	50,94	6	13
PJ van Biljon	26	43	2	2129	218		51,92	59,56	7	13
TB de Bruyn	27	41	2	2118	195		54,30	65,41	8	8
K Verreynne	30	47	6	2069	155		50,46	58,92	2	16
DA Hendricks	35	62	5	2033	197		35,66	42,68	5	7
CN Ackermann	24	41	3	2015	187	*	53,02	55,08	7	10
K Zondo	32	55	9	1864	157		40,52	49,50	5	8
RR Hendricks	29	55	5	1849	168	*	36,98	55,67	5	5
NJ van den Bergh	34	55	6	1820	217	*	37,14	55,69	4	11
H Klaasen	25	43	4	1775	195		45,51	54,97	3	12
F Behardien	27	47	7	1751	140		43,77	53,87	3	11
TG Mokoena	38	66	5	1733	154	*	28,40	46,67	3	7
MZ Hamza	27	46	5	1730	201		42,19	59,26	4	8
As at 17 December 2020: Stats by Andrew Samson

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