OPINION: It has been years since SA batting was so weak
The consensus amongst former Australian gamers in Brisbane was that that they had by no means seen a Gabba Test pitch that was so inexperienced as what was ready for the primary Test in opposition to the Proteas final week; it has additionally in all probability been years since they noticed such a weak South African batting line-up.
Those two elements, plus the sheer high quality of each bowling assaults, had been the explanations behind the astonishing two-day Test match in Brisbane, the second-shortest ever in Australia and the second-shortest anyplace since 1935.
???? RESULT | AUSTRALIA WIN BY 6 WICKETS
A spirited effort with the ball within the second innings – led by Kagiso Rabada’s 4/13), nonetheless, there have been simply not sufficient runs on the board because the hosts take a 1-0 lead within the collection#AUSvSA #BePartOfIt pic.twitter.com/8wcqf6qEtD— Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) December 18, 2022
The Proteas batting was already at a low ebb after they arrived in Australia. Their whole squad boasts simply 17 Test centuries and captain Dean Elgar has scored 13 of them. It is a far, far cry from earlier South African touring groups Down Under which noticed batters like Faf du Plessis, Jacques Kallis, Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers boast nice particular person performances. Previously, stars like Eddie Barlow, Aubrey Faulkner, Graeme Pollock and Colin Bland wowed Australian crowds.
There will likely be many alternative opinions as to why South African batting is at such a nadir; mine is the shortage of top-quality first-class cricket performed by the batters, although yours could also be totally different.
Changes in Melbourne
Elgar appears reluctant to make modifications for the important second Test in Melbourne from Boxing Day, however the Proteas should convey one thing totally different to remain within the collection. Selection doesn’t appear to be a robust level of their’s for the time being and in Brisbane, in probably the most bowler-friendly situations possible, they went in with 5 frontline bowlers as a substitute of enjoying the additional batter. Between them, Lungi Ngidi and Keshav Maharaj bowled just 11 overs.
READ MORE: ICC construction in place for dangerous pitches, however Elgar makes certain his views are identified
Rassie van der Dussen has scored simply 295 runs in his final eight Tests at a median of solely 21.07, having not reached fifty in that point, and would look like most in peril of dropping his place. Theunis de Bruyn and Heinrich Klaasen, each in-form domestically earlier than happening tour, are subsequent in line.
Meanwhile Ryan Rickelton is again in South Africa and searching invincible no matter is happening in his ankle.
