Pride and the chance to nonetheless qualify for the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) closing are two main driving components because the Proteas put together to face Australia within the third and final Test of their sequence in Sydney beginning on Wednesday, based on captain Dean Elgar.
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The conflict on the SCG is a useless rubber after the hosts received the primary two matches of the sequence in Brisbane and Melbourne. All that the South Africans can now hope for is a comfort victory, though a win can even maintain them alive within the hunt for a spot in that WTC decider later this 12 months. Elgar and his fees are presently positioned fourth behind the Australians, India and Sri Lanka, with a win in Sydney for the house facet guaranteeing a spot within the closing.
“There’s plenty to play for,” the Proteas skipper instructed the media ahead of the sport. “We’re taking part in for pleasure, we’re taking part in for a possible place to the WTC closing. So we’ve additionally acquired lots to play for.
“That’s a massive incentive for us and for me you play every Test match like it’s your last and hopefully we can put on a better spectacle this time. We always want to play good Test cricket and be a thorn in the side of the opposition and we’ll be aiming to so better again this time.”
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South Africa has been disappointing with the bat all through the sequence, particularly the highest order. Barring some exceptions like Kyle Verreynne and Temba Bavuma, Elgar believes the batters should be much better on this recreation. Theunis de Bruyn will miss the match because of a paternity depart, that means there will likely be a minimum of one change to the line-up.
“You can’t hide in Test cricket and the top five we obviously need to find a way to deal with and negate the demands of batting discipline in Test cricket,” Elgar defined.
“I feel Kyle’s been sensible for us at six and transferring him round I don’t suppose goes to assist us or assist him in any respect and I don’t suppose it’s honest.
“I think our only batting options are with those two (Rassie van der Dussen and Heinrich Klaasen) by squad composition. Rassie has quite a bit of experience at Test level and he can bring a lot to the role and then you look at a guy like Heinrich, who’s immensely talented and maybe he’s deserving of a chance now, an extended chance as well. We’ll make those decisions this afternoon.”
The captain was additionally requested whether or not he had modified his notion about taking part in an additional batter as an alternative of a frontline bowler.
He added: “I’m nonetheless pondering in direction of 6-5, however all choices are on the desk for us. To play seven batters can be a large name for us and a large ask for our bowling unit to clearly cowl these 4 spots.
“The workload has been fairly hectic on our quick bowlers of late, particularly within the final Test the place they actually pushed fairly just a few numbers with regard to overs bowled. To anticipate them to return right into a Test match and solely have 4 bowlers, probably solely three seamers, is sort of a big ask for them.
“But the options are there, and we’ll make those decisions by tonight,” Elgar concluded.
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Proteas Test squad towards Australia
Dean Elgar (captain, Momentum Multiply Titans), Temba Bavuma (DP World Lions), Gerald Coetzee (ITEC Knights), Theunis de Bruyn (Momentum Multiply Titans), Sarel Erwee (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Simon Harmer (Momentum Multiply Titans), Marco Jansen (Dafabet Warriors), Heinrich Klaasen (Momentum Multiply Titans), Keshav Maharaj (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Lungi Ngidi (Momentum Multiply Titans), Anrich Nortje (Dafabet Warriors), Kagiso Rabada (DP World Lions), Rassie van der Dussen (DP World Lions), Kyle Verreynne (wicketkeeper, Six Gun Grill Western Province), Lizaad Williams (Momentum Multiply Titans), Khaya Zondo (Hollywoodbets Dolphins).
South Africa Test Tour to Australia Itinerary
Four-day Tour Match
09 – 12 December
Cricket Australia XI drew with South Africa – The Allan Border Field, Brisbane
Tests
17 – 21 December
Australia beat South Africa by six wickets – The Gabba, Brisbane
26 – 30 December
Australia beat South Africa by an innings and 182 runs – MCG, Melbourne
04 – 08 January
Australia vs South Africa – SCG, Sydney
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