Proteas fast bowler, Anrich Nortje, is “excited to be back playing with the red ball” after an extended time away from Test cricket.
Expecting pace and bounce at SuperSport Park, Centurion, Nortje is particularly “excited about the cracks” on offer.
In the absence of Kagiso Rabada, Nortje concedes that the bowling group is “inexperienced but played a lot of red ball cricket as a unit.”
Asked about the bowlers who could assume the mantle of the leader of the bowling attack, Nortje said, “We’ll have to see.”
The focus is on “putting performances together as a unit.”
Impressed with uncapped bowler, Glenton Stuurman, Nortje was effusive in his praise for him, calling him a “Very good bowler. He has a lot of skill and control.”
While heedful of the potential for comparisons with former Proteas veteran, Vernon Philander, Nortje said Stuurman is equipped with a similar skillset and “he can trouble a lot of the guys.”
Emphasizing the importance of bowling in partnerships, Nortje said the subject was raised at one of the team meetings. Nortje explained it was about one bowler controlling the run rate, while the other bowler is controlling and looking for wickets.
It is important for bowlers to identify what they have to do in the moment because conditions also dictate how bowlers should execute their plans.
Answering questions about the Sri Lankan team and their win against South Africa on their last tour, Nortje acknowledged that the team was cognizant of it and hope to change this time around. Although the Sri Lankan team has displayed a vulnerability to short-pitched bowling in the past, Nortje said the bowlers’ plans will analyze the opposition’s strengths and weaknesses from every angle.
Despite the pace and bounce on offer this series, Nortje cautioned, “We need to be as simple as possible. We don’t want to go into games thinking we’re going to bump guys out.”
Reflecting on the period away from red-ball cricket, Nortje said this was the first time he had not played long-form cricket for so long. However, “you get used to things again,” said Nortje. Unlike T20 cricket, Test cricket is “more about rhythm” and “you can get consistent.”
Photo: Shaun Roy/BackpagePix
Check out Nortje’s full presser:
