While England are gaining the ascendancy in the four-match Test series, South Africa are losing their grip due to a lack of match-winning performances in their lineup, writes Alasdair Fraser.
Up until the major collapse after tea on Day two of the New Years Test, the Proteas were dominating this bilateral series against their oldest Test rivals.
But since then, it’s been all England. Mention the word matchwinner and Ben Stokes is the common denominator. But England’s rookies are also chipping in with contributions worthy of Stokes’ current exploits.
We’ve seen telling performances from likes of Ollie Pope, Dom Sibley and Dom Bess. All of whom are newcomers to the England Test side. They are still inexperienced but they’ve put England in a strong position to win the series.
The Proteas, on the other hand, have not been able to match these individual performances. We are still yet to see a centurion from our top order. The only batsman who has looked close to a ton bats at No 6, which is fine – keep him there, right?
It’s worrying because if you look at the Proteas lineup, there are plenty of players worthy of putting in some valuable contributions. It’s still early days for Mark Boucher, who’s had the unenviable task of rebuilding a broken team.
If you cross codes to rugby you’ll notice that a large proportion of the same players who failed miserably under Allister Coetzee, now all own RWC gold medals. My point is that we have the ingredients and makings of a strong Test outfit but hiccups are bound to happen.
Changing the captain right now is a big no-no. It hasn’t helped that Faf du Plessis has not won a toss in six consecutive Test matches but it would be the wrong move with the Wanderers Test on the horizon.
Batting second in a Test is always a negative. The Proteas have had to do it in the second and third Tests. At Centurion England put us in and we went on to dominate that Test. Apart from that, losing the toss has seen the Protess on the backfoot before the first ball.
The major problem is that our top order isn’t doing their job and it’s puzzling to see five bowlers being picked. Now, that one of our big match-winners has been suspended, it’s going to be interesting to see the reshuffle.
With Kagiso Rabada out, Temba Bavuma should make his Test return to his home ground. The diminutive 29-year-old was asked to go back to his franchise and score some big runs. An emotive subject for some.
Bavuma answered the call and almost saved the Lions from a sure defeat. Even though he scored a career-best 180, many voices took to social media saying it wasn’t good enough. I guess if you are Temba Bavuma you’re damned if you do and damned if you don’t.
Given South Africa’s top order woes it would be a good idea to select just four bowlers instead of five and give George Linde a call-up. The Cape Cobras all-rounder cracked a magnificent ton against the Titans last week.
His spinning capabilities will stand the Proteas in good stead but it’s with the bat where Linde has shone and should be considered to shore up a top-order lacking in runs and confidence.
Rabada’s absence opens up an opportunity for Beuran Hendricks and it will be interesting to see whether he will make his Test debut with the likes of Andile Phehlukwayo and Dwaine Pretorius in the mix.
My team for the Wanderers: Elgar, Malan, Faf, Rassie, Bavuma, De Kock, Linde, Philander, Nortje, Paterson, Hendricks
