Shaky Proteas batting line-up still a concern

CONSIDERING where South Africa were this time last year it could be expected, and even excused, if Russell Domingo arrived at the final press conference of the series at the Adelaide Oval with his chest puffed out a bit and ready to take aim at his detractors.

But that has never been Domingo’s approach.

Instead, he prefers a pragmatic approach because “it’s not about me” and is equally aware that despite the historic series win over Australia, there remains plenty of work ahead for the Proteas if they are to challenge for that No 1 Test ranking again.

The pink ball Test may have been a dead rubber, but the seven-wicket defeat at the Adelaide Oval illustrated the fragility of the batting unit.

Captain AB de Villiers’s expected return for the Sri Lanka series will be a huge boost for the home summer, but from the opening combination of Dean Elgar and Stephen Cook, right through the middle order there remains unanswered questions.

Elgar and Cook both scored centuries in the series, with the former starting with a bang, but finishing with a whimper. Cook struggled for form at the outset, but rewarded the selectors faith with a second Test ton at the Adelaide Oval. Due to this, both batsmen averaged in the mid-30s.

Equally, JP Duminy (36.80) and Temba Bavuma (32.40) averaged in the 30s even though both made solid contributions at some point or other, with Duminy’s century at the Waca being a particular highlight.

Add in master batsman Hashim Amla’s woeful tour – he averaged below 20 – and it is clear that the Proteas were heavily dependent on wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock to bail them out at various stages. De Kock averaged 56.20 due to a century and two fifties in the series.

“There are still some question marks and areas that we can improve on. A great deal of work lies ahead. We have improved over the last couple of months, we’ve got players back, but there is still plenty of room for improvement,” Domingo, said.

“Consistency (is something to work on). We haven’t had players in a consistent run of form. Probably the only guy has been Quinny, who has contributed almost every single game the last couple of months. Other guys have sporadically performed, so finding consistency in our batting unit (is) something we are working towards.”

Domingo has less such concerns over his bowling attack, especially due to the return to fitness of opening bowler Vernon Philander.

Not only is Philander been back on the park again, but he’s also bang in form with both bat and ball. A fit-and-firing Philander certainly added a great deal of balance to the Proteas side.

It is likely then that it will once again be the batsmen who will need to front up when Angelo Mathews’ Sri Lankans arrive in South Africa next month.

Although Sri Lanka are yet to beat the Proteas away, their improvement on their last trip when they won their first-ever Test in South Africa at Kingsmead in 2011 reflects the danger ahead. They also trounced the Aussies 3-0 at home recently.

– Wickets and runs for Philander, the Man of the Series. Those 12 wickets included the sensational return of 5/21 in Australia’s first innings in Hobart. His 73 runs in South Africa’s second innings in Perth was vital in stretching the lead, giving himself and Rabada enough time and runs to win that match.

– Australian collapses, which feature