Series finale a job for McLaren

THE Proteas find themselves between a rock and a hard place before today’s final and series-deciding one-day international.

It is a place Hashim Amla and his troopers would not have imagined a couple of days ago.

Before the second ODI in Dhaka, the tour of Bangladesh was very much in cruise mode, with many wondering if the hosts’ recent renaissance was more myth than fact.

Comprehensive victories in the T20 series and the opening ODI, coupled with brilliant performances from debutants Eddie Leie and Kagiso Rabada in the respective formats, ensured everything was going swimmingly in the Proteas camp.

However, all this changed on Sunday when an improved Tigers outfit halted the Proteas’ steam train, and ensured that there will be much more than pride to play for at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium today.

In fact, Bangladesh, amid their most successful international season ever, have the opportunity to create further history by defeating South Africa in a bilateral ODI series for the first time.

It is highly unlikely that lightning can strike twice, especially within a couple of days of each other, but the Proteas do have a few pressing questions to answer.

South Africa had adopted the mindset that “fringe players” would be granted opportunities to showcase their abilities while stalwarts AB de Villiers, Dale Steyn, Vernon Philander and Morne Morkel save their energy for the more glamorous series against India (away) and New Zealand and England at home.

But with a series at stake, and Morkel part of the ODI tourists in Bangladesh, can South Africa afford to risk leaving one of the premier strike bowlers on the line again?

It could be risky to toss Morkel in from the cold after a lengthy break – the beanpole seamer played his last competitive match on May 16 – and expect

SQUAD

Hashim Amla (capt), Kyle Abbott, Farhaan Behardien, Quinton de Kock (wk), JP Duminy, Faf du Plessis, Imran Tahir, Ryan McLaren, Dave Miller, Morne Morkel, Chris Morris, Wayne Parnell, Aaron Phangiso, Kagiso Rabada, Rilee Rossouw

SS2,

Radio 2000 11am (SA time) him to perform at optimum levels in foreign conditions tailor-made to negate his pace and bounce.

Another player biding his time on the bench is Ryan McLaren.

The Dolphins all-rounder was recalled to the Proteas’ ODI squad for this tour after the disappointment of missing out on World Cup selection, but he has yet to taste on-field action.

At 32, McLaren must surely be more than a “net bowler” and “drinks carrier” on this tour, and reasonable sanity suggests he should be involved today.

New Titans recruit Chris Morris has filled the troubled all-rounder spot during the first two matches, but has not really covered himself in glory.

He has been inconsistent with the ball, spraying it both sides of the wicket while struggling to find the right lengths.

Morris’s struggles were further highlighted by the way his much younger and inexperienced former Highveld Lions teammate, Kagiso Rabada, has rapidly adapted to bowling on the subcontinent surfaces.

South Africa don’t have any batting options to remedy Sunday’s collapse, as no replacement was called for when De Villiers returned home early.

Quinton de Kock will then have a further opportunity to climb out of the hole he keeps digging after each innings, and a substantial contribution in a series-decider could be the tonic he requires.

A slight change in the batting order, though, could not be out of place as JP Duminy’s considerable talents are being wasted at No 6.

With the pitches not conducive to free-flowing strokeplay from the outset, and the Bangladeshi spinners often operating in tandem during the middle period of the innings, Duminy could be better utilised ahead of power hitters Rilee Rossouw and David Miller.

The classy left-hander is far more adept at rotating the strike through his “touch game”, and often uses the sweep shot to counter the spin threat.

South Africa should have too much class for the Bangladeshis today. It is just a case of which starting XI they finally decide on to actually go and do the business. LONDON: A sore and defeated Australia turned down an invitation from England to share a post-match beer after the tourists’ humbling loss in the first Ashes Test in Cardiff, paceman James Anderson said.

Captain Alastair Cook was rebuffed by Australia skipper Michael Clarke after England’s 169-run win on Saturday, although the match was played in good spirit.

Anderson said England and New Zealand had shared a drink after each hard-fought match of their recent drawn Test series, and Cook had wanted to continue the ritual with Clarke ’s team.

“We were all happy to do it. I don’t know why they didn’t come in. Maybe they wanted to carry on doing things their way. You’ll have to ask them. It’s their prerogative,” Anderson told British media.

“We had a beer with the New Zealand team after both Tests and found it an enjoyable thing to do after a hard Test.

“It didn’t matter whether we won or lost, we did it and it’s something we want to carry on doing.”

Win, lose or draw, Australia and England once shared a drink after the final day’s play of each Test, but Ricky Ponting put paid to that after his team lost the 2005 series.

The hard-bitten Tasmanian felt his players had lost their competitive edge by being too friendly with their opponents, and since then the teams have generally held off mixing with each other until the end of a series.

In contrast to the tetchy 2013/14 series in Australia, where the hosts won 5-0 and both teams engaged in some heated exchanges out in the middle, the Cardiff Test passed without incident.

“We were really focused on what we were going to do, and when you rack up runs, generally the opposition are quiet, whoever you’re playing against,” said Anderson.

Meanwhile, mystery surrounded Australia wicketkeeper Brad Haddin two days before the start of the second Test against England at Lord’s.

Cricket Australia confirmed last night that Haddin would not play in the second Test due to family reasons.

Sydney’s Daily Telegraph reported that he did not train with the team yesterday.

Cricket Australia also said Peter Nevill would make his Test debut as the 37-year-old Haddin’s replacement.

“It’s been a long few months already that we’ve been away,” Australia fast bowler Peter Siddle said.

Haddin had a poor game in Cardiff, dropping England centurion Joe Root on nought and failing twice with the bat.

Australia left-arm pace bowler Mitchell Starc, who took seven wickets in the first Test, is expected to be fit despite struggling with an ankle injury.

“I guess it’s just a waiting game at the moment for myself. Everyone’s fit at the moment which is nice,” added Siddle. – Reuters