Consistency key to dominance over Sri Lanka, says Faf
SA boost points tally on ICC test table after 3-0 series whitewash of Sri Lanka
ALL-ROUND consistency was the key to South Africa’s 3-0 thumping of hapless Sri Lanka during their test series which ended at the Wanderers Stadium on Saturday.
The test series will be followed by the three-match T20 series which starts at Super Sport Park in Centurion on Friday.
Proteas captain Faf du Plessis said after their clean sweep of Sri Lanka, their performance was not the best under his leadership, but the most consistent where they executed plans almost to perfection.
“I won’t say it’s the best‚ I think it’s the most consistent and that’s something we’ve asked for right at the start of the series‚” he said.
“You’re expected‚ in these conditions‚ to be on top of Sri Lanka at times.
“But for me it was about making sure that 95 or 99% of the time we could string together consistent performances, and we’ve done that.”
Du Plessis said throughout the 13 days of test cricket against the Sri Lankans‚ South Africa were in control for probably 95% of the time.
“Bowling and batting right through the series was consistent and also the fielding,” Du Plessis said.
“In test cricket, sometimes people don’t see the value of good fielding, but even in Australia there were some match-changing moments in the field – and once again in this series.
Du Plessis also praised the fast bowlers who were relentless against a largely inexperienced Sri Lankan batting lineup.
“It’s great that they got wickets. It was important‚ especially in the first innings‚ when we had them six down.
“We know that Kagiso Rabada and Vernon Philander are world-class bowlers‚ they are delivering every game and they’re consistent – and relentless.
“Now the plan is to make sure that our third seamer can get to that level – and hopefully as quickly as possible.
“Hitting areas consistently‚ making sure when you’re not taking wickets‚ runs are not leaking too much.
“Both of them will say that they possibly leaked a few too many runs in this game‚ but that they got wickets.
“You make sure you do one or both and luckily they got wickets,” he said.
“Duanne Olivier had some nice pace and aggression which is always good to see in a test attack and Wayne Parnell with his left arm offered some nice pace as well.”
Du Plessis said the Proteas had a culture of welcoming new players to the national team so that they fit in.
“It’s been a big focus of our team for a while to make sure that when guys come in you make extra sure that they feel at home.
“They don’t have to do anything, like in the old days when you had to pack bags for the senior players.
“They deserve their spot in our team and in our culture.”
SOUTH Africa will remain third on the International Cricket Council (ICC) test rankings despite the comprehensive 3-0 whitewash of hapless Sri Lanka‚ a side they completely outplayed throughout the series. The Proteas remain behind leaders India and second-placed Australia, but they improved their rating from 102 to 107 as they continue with their daunting mission of recapturing the much sought after test Championship mace.
Captain Faf du Plessis’s men thumped Sri Lanka by an innings and 118 runs with two days to spare in the third and final test at the Wanderers on Saturday.
South Africa started the series with a convincing 206-run win during the Boxing Day test in Port Elizabeth, before wrapping up the series with a 282-run victory in Cape Town to render the Wanderers test a dead-rubber.
South Africa and Sri Lanka now shift focus to the three-match T20 series which starts on Friday at Super Sport Park in Centurion.
The second match is scheduled for the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg two days later, with the last match to be hosted at Newlands Stadium in Cape Town on January 25.
Then it is on to the five-match ODI series in Port Elizabeth‚ Durban‚ Wanderers‚ Cape Town and Pretoria between January 28 and February 10 before the Sri Lankans return home.
Looking back at the Sri Lankan performances over the three test matches‚ former Sri Lanka all-rounder Russel Arnold said though his countrymen disappointed‚ they will take some positives from the tour.
“There is no doubt that the performances have been disappointing overall but there are positives to draw from here and there.
“This is a young team that continues to learn and grow together after losing influential batsman in the last while and we have to be patient with them‚” he said.
“We must also take into consideration the pitches that we played on at the three venues . . . they were not ideal for them.
“We saw in Port Elizabeth‚ Cape Town and here [Wanderers] that there was a lot of grass on the wicket,” Arnold said.
With the limited overs competitions following this test‚ Arnold said he hoped that the Sri Lankans would improve their performances, even though they have not been particularly impressive in T20s and ODIs in recent times.
Dean Elgar was South Africa’s best batsman of the test series with 308 runs from his five innings. He was followed by JP Duminy with 273‚ Quinton de Kock with 270‚ Hashim Amla with 231 and Stephen Cook with 216 in the top five.
Kagiso Rabada was the pick of the bowlers with 19 wickets. He was followed by Vernon Philander with 17‚ Keshav Maharaj with seven‚ Wayne Parnell with six and debutant Duanne Olivier with five.