LINDE MAY CRACK IT
NEWLANDS: SECOND SPINNER AN OPTION ON SLOW DECK
All-rounder’s leftarm orthodox spin complements Tabraiz Shamsi’s wrist-spin.
In-form spin-bowling allrounder George Linde could be welcomed into the Proteas T20 starting XI for the first time tonight as South Africa look to play a sixth bowler against a typically high-scoring England team in the first match of the series at Newlands.
South Africa’s last T20 outing was also in Cape Town back in February when they were thumped by 97 runs by Australia to lose the series 2-1.
Australia managed to rack up a sizeable 193/5 batting first, and then skittled the Proteas for just 96, with spinners Ashton Agar and Adam Zampa sharing five of the wickets.
One of South Africa’s chief problems that day was that they only had five bowlers – spinner Tabraiz Shamsi was the pick of the attack, but three of the four seamers went for more than 10-runs-per-over.
Linde, whose left-arm orthodox complements Shamsi’s wristspin, has been in great form this season with the bat, so he could comfortably slot in at number six in the order.
On what is expected to be another slow Newlands pitch, a second spinner is probably going to be more useful than another
paceman.
With Dwaine Pretorius ruled out of the matches against England due to a hamstring strain, Andile Phehlukwayo is likely to return. Given the importance of making a good start to the season against the powerful English side and the eight months of inactivity for the Proteas, coach Mark Boucher is likely to defy those calling for a new-look team and IPL stars like Kagiso Rabada, Quinton de Kock, Anrich Nortje and Faf du Plessis will surely feature because they have form and match-fitness on their side.