Keshav and Quinton shine bright
Thanks to a mixture of good play and a little help from the rain gods, the Proteas beat the Black Caps 1-0 in the Test series. Cricket writer ZAAHIER ADAMS has compiled this report card. 9 Keshav Maharaj M: 3 | Wickets: 15 | Ave: 19.93 The tour of New Zealand was an unexpected coming-of-age experience for the Dolphins left-arm spinner. Never in his wildest dreams would he have thought he would encounter such responsive pitches outside of the sub-continent, and he duly took full advantage to finish as South Africa’s highest wicket-taker in the series. This was achieved with a minimum of fuss too, with Maharaj sticking solidly to the disciplines of consistent line and control. He was a captain’s dream in the field too, as his frugality allowed Faf du Plessis to bowl him unchanged for an entire session on two occasions while the fast bowlers rotated from the other end. Will head to England firmly entrenched as South Africa’s No 1 Test spinner. 9 Quinton de Kock M: 3 | Runs: 210 | Ave: 52.50 | HS: 91 | 100s: 0 | 50s: 2 | Catches: 13 | Stumpings: 2 De Kock stuck to his attacking game plan, even in the most trying of circumstances, and his uncomplicated approach to batting reaped significant rewards for the Proteas. Along with Temba Bavuma, De Kock changed the course of the second Test – and ultimately the series – in Wellington by counter-attacking with purpose. Although he just missed out on a century at the Basin Reserve – and again in Hamilton – his runs were worth their weight in gold for the Proteas, especially due to their misfiring top-order. He also showed great character by playing in the final Test at Seddon Park with a finger-tendon injury, and not allowing it to impact his wicketkeeping by still claiming magnificent one-handed catches to both his right and left. The true superstar of the Proteas line-up across all formats now! 8.5 Morne Morkel M: 3 | Wickets: 11 | Ave: 26.72 | Runs: 49 | Ave: 49 A gamble which paid off handsomely for SA. Morkel had only played two domestic limited-overs matches prior to selection for this Test series after a career-threatening back injury, and there was great concern as to whether the beanpole fast bowler’s body would be able to cope with the workload of three back-toback Test matches. However, the rest has seemingly reinvigorated Morkel for he returned refreshed and hungry to play international cricket again. He bowled with great aggression and was easily SA’s most menacing fast bowler of the series. His trademark bounce was still there too, but more importantly he followed it up with a full-length delivery that allowed SA to make the early breakthrough on regular occasions. Morkel also paid greater attention to his batting on this tour, which culminated in a match-changing last-wicket partnership with Vernon Philander in Wellington. 8 Faf du Plessis M: 3 | Runs: 198 | Ave: 66 | HS: 56* | 100s: 0 | 50s: 3 A much quieter series – both on and off the field – for the SA captain than last year, when he was “across the ditch” in Australia, but yet Du Plessis was still hugely successful. The Proteas skipper often walked to the crease with this team in a crisis and calmly absorbed the pressure to allow the likes of De Kock to flourish later on. His only disappointment would have been that he did not manage to convert three half-centuries into anything more substantial, for he knows the value of making a good start count. His fielding, particularly catching, remains out of the top drawer and it was almost a surprise when he did not hold on to a one-handed screamer off Jeet Raval’s slap through mid-wicket in Hamilton, such are the high standards Du Plessis has set. Considering the ruckus surrounding other international captains around the world at the moment, the Proteas can be proud they have a leader in the calibre of Du Plessis. 7.5 Temba Bavuma M: 3 | Runs: 189 | Ave: 37.80 | HS: 89 | 100s: 0 | 50s: 2 Bavuma might be short of stature, but he has a massive heart and is quickly developing into SA’s man for a crisis. His numbers at this stage may not reflect his value to the team, but boy do his teammates appreciate his contributions. On two occasions in this series, Bavuma was required to knuckle down and dig SA out of an almighty hole. And on both occasions, in Dunedin and Wellington, he did it with aplomb. The fact that he has not added to that goose-bump maiden Test century at Newlands yet will rankle with him and his detractors, but there’s every chance it might happen when he faces England again later this year on their home turf. 7 Dean Elgar M: 3 | Runs: 265 | Ave: 44.16 | HS: 140 | 100s: 1 | 50s: 1 Elgar earns this high ranking as the only SA century-maker in the series. His effort in the first innings in Dunedin was superb, given that it was a tough batting surface at the University Oval. Equally his second innings vigil, missing out on two centuries in one Test by just 11 runs, was just as good. Although he is firmly established as one half of SA’s opening pair, like his batting partners, he needs to find a way to be more consistent – the gritty left-hander added only a further 36 runs for the rest of the series after his man-of-thematch effort in Dunedin. 6.5 Vernon Philander M: 3 | Wickets: 2 | Ave: 101.50 | Runs: 70 | Ave: 35 For a bowler whose statistics are normally outstanding, the 2017 New Zealand tour will be regarded as a failure, especially considering his 21-wicket haul there on the previous visit five years ago. But such is the esteem with which Philander is held in these parts that the entire nature of the pitches utilised for this series were probably altered to neutralise “The Ravensmead Wrecker”. Instead of the green-tinged seaming surfaces that New Zealand is traditionally known for, the Proteas were met by brown turning surfaces. This had the desired effect of limiting Philander to just two wickets, but that did not stop SA’s opening bowler from having a significant impact on proceedings. As he has shown previously on the sub-continent, Philander reverted to creating the pressure for his fellow bowlers by restricting the Kiwis’ scoring-rate tremendously through impeccable discipline in line and length. His overall economy rate of just 2.33 runs to the over showed off Philander’s class. 6 Kagiso Rabada M: 3 | Wickets: 8 | Ave: 38.87 SA’s pace spearhead seemed to burn out all his engines in the ODI series before the Tests – he was Man of the Series – and seemed to be operating on reserve during the Tests. It was still a helluva reserve tank, as Rabada hustled all the Kiwi batsmen with his pace and bounce and even accounted for the big scalp of Kane Williamson in Wellington with an in-swinger that set up the victory. But for all his resolve, the extra zip just seemed to be missing on occasion and Rabada’s workloads will no doubt be monitored closely during his maiden IPL season, with the ICC Champions Trophy and his first full tour to England on the horizon. 5 Hashim Amla M: 3 | Runs: 153 | Ave: 30.16 | HS: 50 | 100s: 0 | 50s: 1 Once a feared traveller, Amla is starting to look a shadow of his former great self on batting strips outside of his home comforts. On his last five tours Amla has averaged four in Zimbabwe, 13 in Bangladesh, 16.85 in India, 19.60 in Australia and now 30.16 in New Zealand. As the numbers indicate there was a slight improvement against the Kiwis with one half-century in Hamilton, but Amla needs to rediscover his mojo very quickly for a massive tour of England looms large. 4 JP Duminy M: 3 | Wickets: 4 | Ave: 26.75 | Runs: 104 | Ave: 20.80 Duminy’s bowling numbers were purposely put ahead of his batting statistics on this rating card since it was with the ball that he had the greatest impact on the series. His career-best 4/47 in Wellington was massive in the context of the series – it ultimately ensured SA’s victory. Unfortunately for Duminy, that is not his primary role in the Proteas Test side. He occupies the crucial No 4 slot that is customarily reserved for the “best batsman” in the team. A return of just over 100 runs at an average of just over 20 is simply not acceptable, and was one of the primary reasons why SA slipped into crisis mode for much of this series. The selectors’ patience may just have run out. 1 Theunis de Bruyn M: 1 | Runs: 12 | Ave: 6 | HS: 12 | 100s: 0 | 50s: 0 A third-ball duck opening the innings would not have been the way Theunis de Bruyn envisaged his debut Test for the Proteas. But those were the cards he was dealt when called in at the expense of Stephen Cook in the final Test in Hamilton. A questionable run that led to a collision with Amla, and a runout, in the second innings brought an end to a miserable first Test for the Knights captain. His only consolation will be the fact that it can only get better. 0 Stephen Cook M: 2 | Runs: 17 | Ave: 4.25 | HS: 11 | 100s: 0 | 50s: 0 The hour-glass finally emptied for Stephen Cook on this tour. Unlike in Australia where he was afforded the opportunity to right his wrongs in the final Test in Adelaide, and got a century, Cook was left out in Hamilton on this tour.
His issues against the swinging ball outside the off stump surfaced again, which could spell the end of his Test career.