Predatory Duminy has edge over Elgar
THE facts of the matter say there is not much to choose between JP Duminy and Dean Elgar, particularly as batsmen. Which means they will be separated by sentiment.
Both were named in SA’s squad on Tuesday for the Test series against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates next month — but in the XI there can be only one.
This tale of two players started as darkness descended over the Gabba in Brisbane on November 9 last year, when Duminy snapped his Achilles during the SA team’s warm-down after the opening day of their series against Australia.
Faf du Plessis stepped into the breach in Adelaide and defied the Australians for more than a day to score an undefeated century that saved the match. Deservedly, he also earned himself more opportunities in a Test shirt.
When Jacques Rudolph was dropped for the third match of that series, in Perth, Elgar got his chance. He did not take it as emphatically as Du Plessis, but after four innings he had a Test century.
It was scored against New Zealand at St George’s Park in Port Elizabeth in January, albeit after Hashim Amla and Du Plessis had also banked tons in a total of 525/8 declared. In his four Test innings since then, Elgar has scored between seven and 27.
Duminy’s long road back to health ended in the one-day and Twenty20 series in Sri Lanka last month. He made a century and a half-century in five innings in the one-dayers, and in the Twenty20s he was the leading run scorer on either side and topped SA’s averages.
But Duminy has not batted in a Test since August last year whereas Elgar was in the mix throughout SA’s most recent series, against Pakistan at home in February.
Which brings us back to the question: how to choose between two middle order players, both left- handed, both with their averages pegged in the 30s, both aged in their 20s, and at similar stages of their careers — Duminy has played 17 Tests, Elgar six.
Asked if Duminy or Elgar was ahead in their pecking order, selection convenor Andrew Hudson said: “Duminy did well in Sri Lanka so we’re happy to retain him.”
Nothing gained there. What would Barry Richards do?
“Don’t be too harsh on Elgar; he’s a very committed player,” Richards said yesterday. “But I’d pick Duminy. That said, quality spin bowling might present him with a few problems — and of course the Pakistanis have Saeed Ajmal.”
The clincher could be that Duminy would, as Richards said, “add to the attack”. His off-spin has earned him the Test wickets of Stuart Broad, Matt Prior — twice each — Andrew Strauss, Michael Clarke, Mike Hussey and Virender Sehwag. Elgar has sent down 18 slow left-arm deliveries without success in Test cricket.
In the field, the predatory Duminy has the edge over most of his team-mates, Elgar included.
But a century scored in the pitched battle of a series-deciding Test in Australia tops everything. Duminy has been there and done that — at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in 2008-09 — and that the Test shirt should be his.