Proteas strive for improvement

South Africa’s Proteas will be looking for a much-improved allround performance from their players when they take on New Zealand in the second Test in Hamilton from midnight tonight (SA time).

The second-string Proteas, who are being led by Neil Brand on this two-Test tour of New Zealand, suffered a massive 281-run defeat in the first Test in Mount Maunganui last week.

If the Black Caps win the Test it will be the first time that they have beaten South Africa in a Test series. Tim Southee’s men will start as big favourites to do just that considering the weakness of the South African team.

South Africa scored 162 all out and 247 all out in their two knocks in the first Test, while the Kiwis managed a massive 511 all out and 179/4 declared. So coach Shukri Conrad and his men will be hoping for a better showing with bat and ball.

There were two performances in Mount Maunganui that will give the South Africans some hope – captain Brand returning bowling figures of 6/119 in 26 overs in New Zealand’s first innings and batter David Bedingham scoring 87 in his second time at the crease, to go with his first innings 32.

Conrad said the first Test had been a “wake-up call” for his rookie players, but he hoped that they would have learned something to take into this second Test.

“We’ve obviously got to factor in the nervous tension and everything that goes with debuting for a lot of players, and obviously the nerves that a Test match brings, but I think the divide (between SA and NZ) is great,” said Conrad.

He added: “I think the real test will come when we step out on the field again.”

Well, that time is now.

And it seems Conrad is fully aware that his team will have to step it up in the batting department because no team will be competitive without posting big totals.

“I think the only way we’re going to get something out of the Test match is to bat really well,” Conrad said in the build-up to this match.