PREVIEW: What to expect from Manchester | 2nd Test
Proteas Test skipper Dean Elgar has hinted that spinner Simon Harmer might play in the second Test depending on the conditions and has put to bed rumours of either Ryan Rickelton or Khaya Zondo making the playing 11 for either Aiden Markram or Rassie van der Dussen.
The second Test match between South Africa and England will get underway tomorrow at Old Trafford, Manchester. The Proteas are 1-0 up in the series and look to wrap up the series 2-0 with one more Test left in the series.
Manchester is known to have the most spinner-friendly conditions in England and conversations about having two spinners in South Africa’s playing 11 have been making rounds amongst fans and pundits.
But Dean Elgar, told the media on the eve of the second Test, that they have the same eleven dotted down for the second Test with Simon Harmer slotted in as the 12th man.
“We’ve got our 12. It’s the same 12 we had in the first Test and we’ll decide on the 11 on the day,” Elgar told the media on Wednesday.
“For now we have the 12 with the second spinner in as Harmey. We’ll have a good look at it (wicket) now with the coaches. But we have the resources whether we play four seamers or two spinners. We haven’t finalized our 11 and you’ll have to wait for tomorrow (to see the 11),” he added.
The two spinners, Keshav Maharaj and Harmer, could play together for the third time this year. The two demolished Bangladesh in spinner-friendly conditions in Durban and Gqeberha (formally known as Port Elizabeth).
Apart from the spinners, the pre-match press conference has put to bed any thoughts or rumours on bringing on fresh faces in the struggling Proteas middle order.
It was anticipated that one of Aiden Markram or Rassie van der Dussen could be dropped for the second Test having failed to put runs on the board yet again in the first Test at Lord’s.
The skipper, coaching staff and selectors have instead opted to back the experience of Rassie and Markram to finally turn things around in the second Test.
