Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Faf and Virat weigh up their starting options
‘Brown’ wicket could be the deciding factor for second Test selections Centurion gives both sides an opportunity to polish their game
VIRAT KOHLI has been determined to maintain the ‘Good Vibes Only’ attitude in spite of his side being 0-1 down in the three match Sunfoil Test series.
So while Faf du Plessis looked and sounded less than enamoured with the appearance of the pitch here ahead of the second Test – “(it) looks browner than I thought it would be,” mused the South African captain.
“There is a thick layer of brown grass, it’s not something we are used to seeing here,” Du Plessis continued, “so that is something of the unknown for us, we’ll see how it plays in the next five days.”
His counterpart, nevermind being nonplussed about the surface, seemed downright pleased.
“It looks like a really lively pitch. We expected it that way, in fact we wanted it that way,” said Kohli.
If the captains’ moods on the eve of this second Test was a reflection of the atmosphere in the respective camps, then everything with India appears to be just hunky dory.
Du Plessis appeared weighed down. Perhaps the pitch is not to his liking or maybe there’s just a little irritation brought about by having to spend another few days musing over the composition of his starting team.
The captain, and coach Ottis Gibson, have waved the banner for aggression and positivity and in that regard it would mean sticking with the structure of six frontline batsmen, four seamers and the spin of Keshav Maharaj, which won them the first Test.
The hot temperatures being forecast for the duration of the second Test, coupled with his immense skill, means Maharaj must start.
So, with Dale Steyn out of the series, which seamer to choose then? Chris Morris, erratic with the ball, but capable with the bat – and given South Africa were bowled out for 130 in their second innings, that will be an important consideration; Duanne Olivier, strong and quick, but not an enormous threat or Lungi Ngidi, who bowled a thunderous spell at training on Thursday with Du Plessis and Gibson, watching closely.
Du Plessis admitted it was the first time he’d seen Ngidi bowl in the flesh. “I was very impressed with his bowling, he bowls a heavy ball, there’s a bright future for him.”
Whether that future is now and a spot in the starting team this morning, Du Plessis wouldn’t say.
He did mention however that South African cricket and him in particular needed to take great care with the country’s premier fast bowlers, given the amount of cricket that’s still ahead of them this season.
“I have an eye on the future, there’s a lot of Test cricket coming up – these two Tests against India and then the series against Australia….as I’ve said very often, the success of our Test team is highly dependent on the fast bowlers we have in our armoury.”
Kohli’s not free of selection headaches either, but he appeared delighted that a variety of options were open to him.
If Ajinkya Rahane doesn’t play it would be a very foolish step on the touring team’s part, and that’s regardless of whether it comes at the expense of, or in addition to, Rohit Sharma in the middle order.
It was India’s batting that let them down badly at Newlands and is the area most in need of strengthening.
Having six frontline batsmen instead of the five they played in Cape Town is surely the way to go for them. In addition Shikhar Dhawan’s problems with the short ball means KL Rahul should be given an opportunity.
Kohli said his team would be better off for its experience, and he again underlined the importance of a positive mindset.
“There are other pitches around the world that bounce, but here the bounce is steep, even off a length,” Kohli said. “Those are things you must mentally tune yourself to get over and adjust to. With the experience we had in the first game, we are much better prepared to counter (South Africa) in this Test.” Three areas where SA can improve in Second Test
OPENERS:
The conditions South Africa wants means the opening batsmen will face a challenging time as they attempt to see off the new ball. For Markram and Elgar, despite all the talk from the coach and captain about being positive, so is the need to be tight at the start. Elgar and Stephen Cook set an example last season on a difficult Wanderers track; scoring 45 runs in 15 overs. Skill and luck play a part, but as Markram said, runs can be scored, and it’s imperative the Proteas openers score them, and in the process ask more questions of India’s new ball bowlers.
HASHIM AMLA:
Not the run machine of five years ago, and another who’s not being helped by the fact that bowler-friendly pitches are South Africa’s preference at home. But Amla’s experience needs to be transferred into runs now. By his standards - admittedly very high - he’s been far too erratic in recent years. In 19 Tests in the past two years, he’s scored just three centuries (two against Bangladesh and one against Sri Lanka). He’s found some ugly ways to get out too - the dismissals in Cape Town last week a reflection of all his troubles.
ASSERTIVE AGAINST THE LOWER ORDER:
Too often in the last year Du Plessis has taken a step back when the tail are in - particularly with a set batsman - allowing the opposition off the hook. Ben Stokes in the third Test for England last winter, and then Moeen Ali and Jonny Bairstow in the fourth Test of that series, both took advantage as Du Plessis set fielders back, thereby handing over the initiative. Hardik Pandya did the same last week. With the bowlers at his disposal the South African captain needs to remain aggressive against the lower middle order.
Three areas where India can improve in second Test:
OPENERS:
It’s the same as for South Africa, but India may look at making some personnel changes, the most likely being dropping Dhawan for KL Rahul. Whatever they do, the key element for the tourists involves being better against the high bouncing ball. A lot of time was spent pre-series on back-foot play and the same has been the case in the nets before this second Test. Whatever solutions have been made, need to be implemented.
MIDDLE ORDER:
Trust historic form - which they didn’t do in Cape Town - and pick Ajinkya Rahane. Rohit Sharma is not a Test no.5, certainly not outside of India (and it’s debatable if he’s a Test batsman at all away from home). India needs the extra frontline batsman in these conditions.
SUSTAINED INTENSITY:
India backed off in Cape Town when De Villiers came at them with the bat, and when Rabada got at them with the ball in the first innings. This is not a series in which they can take a backward step. Kohli has talked a good game in the lead up to this must-win second Test, and his players must have the self-belief - something that waned just a bit in Cape Town - if they are to beat the Proteas.