David cements Proteas place
Bedingham certain to start for tours to Bangladesh and the West Indies
● There were lessons for players as well as Cricket SA (CSA) administrators in the wake of the New Zealand tour, where results on the field went as expected.
For CSA, the lesson is that that poor scheduling should not lead to the kind of catastrophic selection forced upon coach Shukri Conrad, because of the organisation’s understandable need to “protect” the SA20.
Conrad described it as a “cock-up”, and the next time CSA faces a similar scenario will be in 2027, when England is scheduled to tour South Africa at the same time as the first half of the SA20.
CSA’s director of cricket, Enoch Nkwe, who was in Hamilton for the second Test, said the clash is currently being “worked on”, but given just how busy that period is scheduled to be, the negotiations are sure to be tricky.
Meanwhile, for Conrad and the players, the tour was a chastening experience. Many, Conrad revealed, had believed they were close to and deserving of a Test call-up — even with the contracted players available — but they endured harsh lessons.
After the first Test he was asked if the outcome in that match illustrated a lack of quality in the domestic system. He disputed the notion, correctly explaining that two tiers of players were unavailable for selection — the nationally contracted Proteas, along with many younger players like Jordan Hermann, Matthew Breetzke, Daryn Dupavvilon and Eathan Bosch.
“The boys gave it their all, and it showed the reserved strength that the Proteas actually possesses is in good hands,” said Conrad. Still, Conrad cut a frustrated figure particularly after the first Test, where it looked like his messaging to the players wasn’t getting through to them, especially the batters.
What the Tests in New Zealand provided was clarity in some areas. Conrad was deserving of a pat on the back for his selection earlier in the season of David Bedingham, but while his star is soaring, others have dimmed.
It is clear that for all their honest endeavour, Tshepo Moreki and Dane Paterson aren’t Test bowlers. South Africa does possess great depth in the fast bowling department, but it doesn’t run 11 to 12 players deep.
On the spinning front, however, Dane Piedt certainly put his name in the hat for consideration in Bangladesh later this year, where South Africa should not fear using three front-line spinners. Piedt is a craftier bowler now than when he last played a Test in 2019, thanks to improved control of flight and changes of pace.
Piedt is not going to push Keshav Maharaj out of the primary spot, but as part of a trio — with Simon Harmer — they will cause serious trouble on the dust bowls of Dhaka.
On the batting front, the clearest winner out of New Zealand was Bedingham who scored 268 runs at an average of 67.00. In seven Test innings thus far, he has passed 50 three times, turning one of those into a wonderful ton in Hamilton, which created the opportunity for an unlikely victory.
He stood a class above his teammates in that particular Proteas squad and, even when the contracted players return later this year for the tours to Bangladesh and the West Indies, he is certain to start. “Hopefully he has a long, distinguished and successful Test career,” said Conrad.
While Bedingham’s future looks bright, the same can’t be said for Zubayr Hamza and Keegan Petersen. The two most experienced batters in the squad had bitterly disappointing tours. Hamza, who scored 95 runs in four innings, looked like he’d put too much pressure on himself, knowing he was a senior batter in the squad.
Petersen has developed a problem at Test
The boys gave it their all, and it showed the reserve strength that the Proteas actually possesses is in good hands
Shukri Conrad
Proteas Test coach
level in that he is able to start well, but is incapable of turning that into bigger scores like Bedingham did. Twice he reached the 40s, matching the story of a Test career, in which he’s made at least 20 in half of the innings he has played, but still possesses a highest score of 82.
There is plenty for Conrad to ponder. Neil Brand, unfortunately, didn’t make a strong enough case to be Aiden Markram’s opening partner, which might lead to some tinkering at the top of the order, with Tony de Zorzi moving up to open — and perhaps Ryan Rickelton being considered for the No 3 spot.