Cookie can make a big play, says Elgar

HOBART: In all the excitement of the Proteas’ sensational victory at the Waca on Monday, it would be easy to ignore that their entire top-order had their feet up in the dressing-room before the shine of a new Kookaburra was removed in their first innings.

Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood were bossing the game for the hosts when they reduced the visitors to 32/4 in the 13th over. That they went on to win the first Test by 177 runs is nothing short of amazing, but there remains a concern that an implosion at the top of the batting unit isn’t consigned to the realms of fantasy.

Much of this apprehension centres on the form of Stephen Cook. The experienced opener has yet to find his feet – literally and figuratively – in Australia, despite putting in extra work with batting consultant Neil McKenzie.

They are often seen in consultation before, during, and after training as they try to find a way for Cook to not only build some confidence out in the middle, but also get the scoreboard to move along.

And that’s the primary area of his problems lay. Not only has the 33-year-old not passed 20 runs – that included a first innings four-ball duck at the Waca – thus far on the tour, he has also not been able to keep up the tempo of the innings.

Cook is never going to be a free-scoring batsman like David Warner, but he must find a way of transferring the pressure onto the Australian bowlers.

He looked composed at the crease for over an hour in the second innings in Perth and faced 55 balls.

However, he only managed 12 runs at a strike-rate of 21.81, and was dismissed at the first instant of attempting an aggressive stroke when he was caught at short mid-wicket playing the pull shot.

But Dean Elgar believes Cook, who scored a century on Test debut at the start of the year against England, will be eager to right his wrongs in Hobart tomorrow (1.30am start, SA time).

“I’m sure if I was in that position I’d be a bit frustrated

because as a player in this environment, you want to make a contribution. And I know a guy who’s just started his international career wants to make a big play for South Africa,” Elgar said yesterday.

“Everybody shares his frustrations. As his opening partner, I share his frustrations with him. I am frustrated on his behalf. Hopefully he can feed off the good form of us winning the first Test and make a big play for us in the second Test.”

The Proteas have Rilee Rossouw in reserve if a change is needed, especially as he provides a contrasting option to Cook, due to his natural attacking instincts. The uncapped Rossouw also starred against the Aussies during the preceding ODI series in South Africa, where he was named Man of the Series after the 5-0 whitewash.

Elgar is well-acquainted with Rossouw’s ability, having been long-time franchise teammates at the Knights before the former joined the Titans in 2014.

Six years ago, with Rossouw still 20 years old and Elgar only 23, the two left-handers rewrote the record books with a second-wicket first-class partnership of 480 in only 85.1 overs.

It was also the highest partnership for any wicket, beating the 441 of Eastern Province’s Carl Bradfield and James Bryant set in 2002-03.

Rossouw’s contribution was a career-best 319 off only 291 balls with 47 fours and 8 sixes.

It should be remembered that Cook, too, etched his name into the history books during that 2009-10 season with a marathon 390 from 648 balls, which is still the highest score in local first-class cricket.

“Rilee is a different dynamic player. He’s a bit more of a middle-order player. He’s not really

an opening batsman. His role is a lot different to Cookie,” Elgar said.

“He will bring in another dynamic of aggression. That’s the way he approaches his cricket. I don’t think Rilee is going to be needed just yet.”

Linda Zondi and his fellow selectors are unlikely to make a batting change for tomorrow, with possibly only Kyle Abbott coming in for the injured Dale Steyn.

It is a healthier position to be in than the Australians, who are in the midst of a battle with their high-performance sports science team.

The relationship has deteriorated to such an extent that media were briefed at the Bellerive Oval yesterday to clarify the situation, after Australia coach Darren Lehmann and a selector insisted that “the final decision on whether a bowler plays or not is made by the selectors in consultation with the individual concerned”.

Starc and Hazlewood will therefore lead the attack again, despite the former being a “high-injury risk” according to medical data, with the uncapped Joe Mennie set to join the team in the absence of the injured Peter Siddle.

Opening batsman Joe Burns will also return to the side after Shaun Marsh was ruled out the series after suffering a broken finger at the Waca.

LIKELY TEAMS FOR THE BELLERIVE OVAL Australia: David Warner, Joe Burns, Usman Khawaja, Steve Smith (capt), Adam Voges/Callum Ferguson, Mitchell Marsh, Peter Nevill (wk), Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon, Joe Mennie. South Africa: Stephen Cook, Dean Elgar, Hashim Amla, JP Duminy, Faf du Plessis, Temba Bavuma, Quinton de Kock, Vernon Philander, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Kyle Abbott/ Morne Morkel. Umpires: Richard Kettleborough (England), Aleem Dar (Pakistan). Start time: 1:30am (Tomorrow morning). TV: SS2