Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Tense times at the crease
Only five frontline batsmen in Proteas’ ODI bowler-dominated squad to face Sri Lanka
THE PROTEAS will carry a very unbalanced squad through the first three matches of the One-Day International series with Sri Lanka starting at the Wanderers tomorrow, with the bowling once more being given far greater emphasis than the batting.
Given recent displays it should have seemed clear that the batting should be prioritised but a bit like what happened with the Test team in the two matches with Sri Lanka, the home side have lightened the batting front and loaded up on seam bowlers.
There are just five frontline batsmen in the 14-man squad for the first three ODIs, three seam bowling all-rounders, two wrist-spinners and the rest quick bowlers, with Anrich Nortjé being next to be offered a chance to stake a World Cup claim.
This season Duanne Olivier (now very much persona non grata), Dane Paterson and Beuran Hendricks have all been given a chance in that role, the aim being to find a back up quick for the World Cup squad.
Nortjé’s been on the selectors and head coach Ottis Gibson’s radar since that explosive start in the Mzansi Super League. An ankle injury which required surgery ended his MSL stint, and he’s only recently returned to action, playing three One-Day matches, two in the Momentum Cup for the Warriors.
“I was telling Faf that it was slowly getting back to normal again; there’s no stiffness after a game, that’s nice. I’m feeling good, a couple of balls were going through nicely when I did try and push in the Durban game (against the Dolphins),” he said.
So Nortjé, 25, is the latest, seam bowler to get a chance. He couldn’t say what would set him apart in an attack featuring some men who bowl quite quickly and swing the ball. “You’ll have to wait and see,” he replied, adding that he does bring the ball into the right hander, but that he could take it away as well.
What we won’t get to see is anyone new staking a claim for a batting spot. Perhaps that’s because no-one has really stood out after Rassie van der Dussen, or the selectors really want those who are heading to the World Cup to get in some game time domestically. Hashim Amla, for instance, apparently requested that he not be considered for the start of the series so that he could rebuild his confidence at the Cape Cobras.
Another batsman strangely not considered for the 50-over format since the tour to Australia last year, Aiden Markram, was playing against Amla at Newlands last night for the Titans. JP Duminy also played at Newlands with the selectors hoping he can get through a few more games for the Cobras before coming into consideration at a later stage for a Proteas recall.
All that does is make the batting light but also places a lot of responsibility on those all-rounders to make runs. Andile Phehlukwayo’s been doing so for the Dolphins in the Momentum Cup, scoring three half-centuries, but Wiaan Mulder, widely considered a ‘batting all-rounder’ has had very limited time at the crease as he’s jumped between formats and teams in the last four weeks.
Add into the mix that the quality of South Africa’s fielding is a genuine concern and the series is set up to be a very intriguing one.
Still experimenting with personnel and combinations is not where the Proteas wanted to be in the final OneDay series the team plays before the World Cup. And they’re up against a Sri Lankan side that may have changed quite a few players for the One-Dayers but those new players will have come into a happy atmosphere in their camp after their historic achievement in the
Test series.
❚ Cricket SA yesterday announced the nationally contracted players for the next year, with 16 men and 14 women granted contracts for the remainder of this year and the 2019/20 season. Theunis de Bruyn and Reeza Hendricks are the only two new male players to received contracts.
Contracted men: Hashim Amla Temba Bavuma, Theunis de Bruyn, Quinton de Kock, Faf du Plessis, Dean Elgar, Reeza Hendricks, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Andile Phehlukwayo, Vernon Philander, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Dale Steyn
Contracted women: Trisha Chetty, Mignon du Preez, Shabnim Ismail, Marizanne Kapp, Ayabonga Khaka, Masabata Klaas, Lizelle Lee, Sune Luus, Zintle Mali, Raisibe Ntozakhe, Tumi Sekhukhune, Chloe Tryon, Dané van Niekerk, Laura Wolvaardt