BEMUSING SELECTIONS NOT HELPING PROTEAS
DAY ONE at Hagley Oval produced the most dismal batting performance by South Africa since Mark Boucher took over as coach at the end of 2019.
In that period, much has been said and written about the regular batting collapses the Proteas had suffered.
To be fair to Boucher, it was a problem that had already started before his appointment, so blame for it can’t be laid entirely at his door.
Yesterday’s 95 all out in 49.2 overs was the worst performance in that period. You need to go back to Nagpur in 2015 to find the last time SA were bowled out for under 100 in their first innings of a Test match. That was on a pitch that was subsequently sanctioned by the ICC for poor preparation.
New Zealand gained a crucial advantage in bowling first, as Tom Latham chose to do after winning the toss, but SA’S batters succumbed meekly.
Dean Elgar knows better than to push that hard at a delivery, as he did to Matt Henry in the second over; Aiden Markram had looked alright in reaching 15, but then played a loose stroke to a wide delivery from Henry that he edged to wicket-keeper Tom Blundell; and Zubayr Hamza, a surprise choice to fill the extra batter’s role, played a similar shot after making 25.
In the case of both right-handers, the shots that brought about their dismissals were defensive ones, played outside of their eyeline. If you’re going to play a shot in that area, it is best that it is an attacking one.
Temba Bavuma’s was another poor stroke that gifted his wicket to Tim Southee straight after lunch.
Hamza’s was the top score and he actually looked the best of the SA batters. He was certainly the most authoritative when attacking, with an on-drive and then a pull, both off Southee, the highlights of his and indeed SA’S innings.
The 26-year-old right-hander was not in the original squad for the tour and was only called in as a replacement when Keegan Petersen tested positive for Covid-19.
While Sarel Erwee, who made his debut yesterday, was always set to start, Hamza’s role seemed to be that of back-up batter behind Ryan Rickelton.
Not so, claimed convener of selectors Victor Mpitsang.
“Rickelton is the back-up keeper/batter, Zubby was there as the replacement batter once Keegan couldn’t go,” Mpitsang said.
By taking that particular stance, Mpitsang is eliminating a strong case that Rickelton has made this season to be seen purely as a batter.
In five innings in the Cricket SA 4-Day Series for the Central
Gauteng Lions, Rickelton has passed 50 on four occasions, and turned three of those into centuries. He is the second highest runscorer in the competition despite playing fewer innings than any of the other top 10 scorers in that tournament.
In seven innings for Western Province, Hamza has scored 253 runs at an average of 36.14, with a top score of 94.
Hamza’s most notable performance this season was against India A in Bloemfontein last December when he made 125 not out.
With SA foregoing the services of spinner Keshav Maharaj for the extra batter at Hagley Oval, where spinners are largely ineffective, Mpitsang explained that it was always clear to him who that batter would be.
“Zubby was also going to play instead of (Keshav) Maharaj,” said Mpitsang.
“He has Test experience, and he has gone back to domestic cricket since he last played a Test and he has performed.”
SA’S batting has been problematic in the last five years, and Petersen had solved one very important issue at No.3 against India, making it a real pity that he is not in New Zealand.
However, when SA’S most in-form batter can’t cut the starting XI because he is viewed as a keeper/batter – with the batter portion ignored – it seems like the selectors are also doing the team harm.