Oz great questions why Keegan has been overlooked
FORMER Australian great and Test captain Ian Chappell praised new Proteas star Keegan Petersen’s efforts in the series against India (SA won 2-1) and wondered where he was all this while.
In the Cape Town Test, Petersen was superb in making 72 in the first innings and followed it up with a sublime 82 in the second knock to set the base for a successful chase of 212 for South Africa.
He was also adjudged ‘Player of the Series’ for being the highest run-scorer over the three Tests, amassing 276 runs in six innings at an average of 46.
“Petersen’s sudden rise to fame has been a revelation and raises the question of where he has been all this while,” said Chappell. “This example exposes one of the mysteries of Test cricket: do some selectors know what they should be looking for? Petersen is in his prime, at 28, but he has only played five Tests,” said Chappell.
“Despite lacking experience, he has all the requirements of a Test No. 3, including a wide range of shots that he is prepared to play, plus a solid defence.
“So why is he only playing now? Sometimes players deserve an opportunity on potential and temperament alone, and this is where good selection stands out,” concluded Chappell, reports Reuters.
Meanwhile, Dolphins coach Imraan Khan was not surprised by Petersen’s successes.
“His selection was well deserved as he’s scored a lot of runs on the domestic first class circuit for a number of years. He has a great technique, a strong mentality and is, importantly, a fantastic team player. Everybody’s journey is a special one. He has had to be patient for his opportunity.
“That is how it is sometimes. It is his time, and hopefully he has a long and successful Test career,” said Khan.
For Indian fans, it would have been frustrating to watch Petersen in the series as he negotiated a top attack on difficult surfaces with class and calmness. He might still need to refine his technique, as he looked shaky at times, but his ability to remain calm under pressure and temperament made him a standout performer.
It will be interesting to see Petersen
playing on pitches which offer lateral movement off the straight, such as those in Australia and England.
He will be one to keep a close eye on when the Proteas tour England from July to September.
The Proteas brains trust will be relieved that someone has finally put their hand up for the number three batting spot, which has been a problem area for the team since the retirement of Hashim Amla in 2019.
The one thing that has eluded the Western Cape-born player in the series and in his short Test career so far is that
first century, but he will be confident that that is just around the corner, based on his current progress.
At 28, Petersen had to wait his turn before getting his Proteas chance against the West Indies last June. He was no breakout superstar as were the likes of AB de Villiers and Amla, who broke into the Proteas team in their early 20s.
Petersen had to watch as Amla, Faf du Plessis and more recently, Zubayr Hamza, occupied the number three position. While Petersen enters international cricket at a later stage of his career than many of his contemporaries, he is no rookie, with more than 106 First Class appearances, and this can work to his advantage.
He will not need to iron out rookie errors in his game as the likes of De Villiers and Amla had to do during their formative years in the international arena in the early 2000s.
Petersen can take inspiration from former Proteas captain Du Plessis, who also entered the international Test arena at the age of 28 in 2012, but who still carved out a successful 69-Test career, establishing himself as a modern-day cricket great for the national team.