Proteas look to kick on

AFTER feeling let-down by the Kingsmead outfield, which refused to drain away through three days of blue skies, the Proteas will be thrilled to see a pristine looking Supersport Park.

Both Centurion and Durban were worked on to make cricket in winter months bearable for the players. However, up north, the decision was taken to “overseed” the field, rather than resurface, as was the case on the coast.

Unseasonable rains, and all together chaotic flooding, ruined any chance of the resurfaced field taking a real hold, leaving mud and bare patches aplenty.

Stand-in skipper, Faf du Plessis, before departing Durban, did find a few positives out of the 87 overs of batting, and their 12 overs of bowling. The Proteas managed to accumulate, mostly through a number of starts – but no big scores – a total of 263 runs.

Hashim Amla was the only batsman to go past 50, but openers Stephen Cook (20) and Dean Elgar (19) at least played their part in dulling the new ball. Du Plessis, chipped in (23), Temba Bavuma (46) looked determined and Quinton de Kock (33) was fluid, if not a little rash.

More pleasing was the return of Dale Steyn and Vernon Philander from injury, the former taking the only two Kiwi wickets to fall, and the latter hitting a good line and length consistently.

For the upcoming, and deciding, Test at Centurion (which starts at 10am tomorrow) Du Plessis will be looking for much more from his batsmen. A few starts will not be good enough against a team like New Zealand who are higher in the Test rankings than the South Africans.

There is much pressure on JP Duminy, who seems to be playing for his life as the likely candidate to make way when AB de Villiers is back from injury. His 166 run heroics, back in 2008, against the Australians, still his highest score, and one of only four centuries in his Test career.

Without one player, at least, kicking on to score big for the Proteas, it would seem like there would be too much work to be done by the bowling line-up. Having caught the smallest of glimpses of the two returnees, it would be comfortable to say that the Proteas are dominant in the bowling stakes this time.

There is still the rising star of Kagiso Rabada to make his mark this year, as well as spinner Dane Pied. However, Kyle Abbott could also come into play on a seamer-friendly wicket.

Both teams will obviously be itching to get back on to the field, after having to entertain themselves in the change room on three dry days. It should be a game full of fury and fire, and hopefully one that can go the full five days to a result.