Proteas need to step up
- Details
- Published on Tuesday, 28 February 2012 08:00
- Written by Zaid Gamieldien
A few months ago England had reached the summit of Test cricket. A series win over world champions India, an Ashes victory, coupled with top honours for Jonathan Trott and Alastair Cook as Cricketer and Test Cricketer of the year respectively, rocketed the Poms to the coveted number one spot. One week ago, a youthful Pakistan squad, on the back of scandal and volatility, obliterated the English on neutral territory, sweeping the series 3-0.
Shocking? If one considers the shocking results which have defined the recent state of Test Cricket, one would be inclined to differ. In fact, a topsy-turvy scoreboard has become the norm in recent times. From top teams such as Australia and England being bowled out for 100 or less on more than one occasion, to India succumbing to successive whitewashes, the last few months have been anything but boring.
South Africa will this month tour New Zealand, where they will play three-match series in all formats of the game. Using recent results as an indicator, one would be forgiven for predicting a test finishing on the third day, or a side being bowled out for less than 100 and still going on to win the test.
The Proteas can use this series to detach themselves from the cricketing crisis by convincingly beating their opposition. They head into the series with an ODI ranking of three and Test ranking of two, while the Kiwis are languishing at seven and eight respectively.
A battle of the pacers can be expected, as both sides rely primarily on their speedsters as their strike force. New Zealand boasts a mediocre mixture of youth and experience in their attack, with 36-year-old Chris Martin guiding newcomers Trent Boult and Doug Bracewell, who helped dismantle hapless Zimbabwe and earn a 1-1 series draw with Australia. Although the venues for the test series do not appeal to pace bowlers, South Africa are expected to fight fire with fire. Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel and Vernon Philander are a class above the Kiwi bowling unit, but ultimately the contest could come down to the spinners’ success. The bouncy pitches could aid both Imran Tahir and Daniel Vettori, and their performances could prove to be the difference.
The Proteas’ quest for victory is incentivised by the desire to overcome the agonising memory of World Cup exodus the last time the two sides met. In addition to this, the last time South Africa toured New Zealand, back in 2004, the Kiwis annihilated the Proteas 5-1 in an ODI series, back. Further incentive comes in the form of Pakistan’s whitewash of England. This leaves South Africa requiring a series whitewash of New Zealand in order to topple the English and reclaim the number one Test ranking.
Despite the gap between the sides, the job will not be easy. South Africa has never won a test series in New Zealand, but the odds are hugely in their favour. The ODIs however, are 50-50. The first T20 starts on the February 17th.