Proteas Test number three, Keegan Petersen, was honest about their inability to score big as a batting unit so far and has called on the batters to make a statement in the series decider this coming Thursday at The Oval, writes Ongama Gcwabe.

“Australia, India, they produce guys who get big runs in their first-class system. Big runs. And they stay hungry. They keep wanting more runs, more runs. I don’t know if we (SA batters) have that sort of mentality. (I don’t know) if the guys are getting it (Test caps) too easily. We did the hard yards. We had to go out there and do the dirty work in order to be ready for international cricket,” said former Proteas Test opener, Herschel Gibbs, during the Wake-Up & Smell the Cricket series that SuperSport TV is running for the England-South Africa series.

“As a batsman if you’re not getting hundreds then what is the point? Batsmen set games up not the bowlers, that is why it is so important for batters to get hundreds. It’s as simple as that.” he added.

These words have been echoing in my head for the past couple of days. Perhaps it is because Hershy was spot on when he said that and it’s starting to get clearer for us mortals to see and understand. It’s been going on throughout this WTC campaign. Proteas batters are simply struggling to score big runs in the Test arena. And it’s not rocket science to understand why this is happening if you take a closer look at our batter’s First-Class stats.

Sarel Erwee (22.45%), Keegan Petersen (32.69%), Markram (38.63%) and Zondo (30.23%) all have conversion rates below 40% in FC cricket. This information tells us that these batters have been struggling to convert good starts into big scores. Even before making their Test debuts.

“I think it’s all mental. I don’t think we’ve struggled to get in. It’s getting starts and getting out that’s the problem for us right now,” Petersen reasoned.

Petersen was deservedly awarded Test Player of the month last December when he showed his brilliance against a quality Indian pace attack. He was a rock at that number three and had the whole world talking about his impressive series at home. But he still didn’t score tons when he had many opportunities to do so in that series. Again, this habit in his game carries through from domestic cricket into Test cricket.

Even in this Test series, KP’s had starts. He has looked good but getting the big scores proves to be a challenge for him and the rest of the batters. His stint with Durham in the county championship tells the same narrative as well.

“Trust me I’m not trying to get out when I get to those double figure scores, I’m trying to get the triple figures. Hopefully, it’ll come for me soon,” said Petersen ahead of the 3rd and last Test of the series.

The important question is, what will it take for him to start converting?

“To be honest if I knew the answer to that question I wouldn’t have this problem. But I know I’ve gotten myself in and that’s not the problem. It’s really kicking on that’s been the problem. I’m still trying to figure it out really.”

Test cricket is a difficult place to be figuring out this part of your game but as Proteas supporters, we rally behind these young batters to finally get it right. They need to. A Test series is at stake. This would be South Africa’s first Test series win against England since 2012. A whole decade of succumbing to England Test teams.

There are only two days left before Dean Elgar’s men go over the boundary rope once again to try and bring back what we call in IsiXhosa – ‘isidima’ (respect for the badge) to our Test team. And after an embarrassing defeat at Old Trafford, South Africans will be expecting to see fight, desire and results, not excuses.

“It hurt really. It hurt the team to get beat like that after having beaten them the same way in the first Test at Lord’s. There’s a lot at stake for this next game, hopefully, we can turn it around and have a good game.” Petersen concluded.