Mark Boucher’s influence is already beginning to pay dividends for a Proteas outfit that’s been wallowing in negativity, writes Alasdair Fraser.
Yes it’s only one Test into Bouch’s tenure and it’s still early days but there is a marked difference in how the national team are performing on the field.
The five-Test losing streak is over. We can breathe a sigh of relief. There is still plenty of fire in this Proteas team.
We’ve been crying out for more positivity in our cricket and this win has created a solid foundation for the Proteas to begin their recovery back to the top table of Test cricket.
There is more of a swagger in the Proteas step. The players are thinking more and are being encouraged to do so like the professionals they are. England losing seven wickets for just 39 runs in their first innings underlines this.
It’s hard to assess the batting as the Centurion pitch proved to be a challenge for both teams. Apart from Quinton de Kock and Rassie van der Dussen, no one else stamped their authority in the top order.
We’ll perhaps see Jacques Kallis’ influence coming to the fore when hostilities resume in the new year at Newlands. It would be foolish to make big changes, apart from replacing the injured Aiden Markram, at such a delicate stage of the Proteas’ rebuilding phase.
But what’s been one of the most positive aspects coming out of the new coaching set-up has been Faf du Plessis’ rejuvenation as captain.
He has been carrying this team on his shoulders for far too long. The World Cup disaster must have been hurtful to Faf. He is a tough competitor and that setback in England would have cut deep into his soul.
During the tour to India it appeared as if he was doing more than just being a captain. With the utmost respect to Enoch Nkwe, Faf was shouldering more than he should have during that tour and it seemed to take its toll.
The Proteas were mentally just not there and we saw it all unravel in India.
But in the field at Centurion we saw the Faf of old. The bowlers knew what they needed to do and they stuck to their plans. The field placements were on point. There was structure, there was a swagger and there was an urgency that’s been lacking in our cricket for some time now.
Faf’s renewed mental attitude is rubbing off on his players and long may it continue into this series as we look ahead to 2020 with renewed vigour.
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