Page 30 - SAFFER Magazine 01

Dan on Cricket

Test Cricket is Alive and Well! Furthermore, there can be no denying
that South Africa’s recent shortcomings
have not been the result of their bowling
attack, but rather their fragile and timid
looking top 7. To add some much needed
depth to the line-up, I would also not be
particularly surprised to see a batsman
coming in for Dwaine Pretorius who,
in my opinion, has played his role with
the ball fantastically well, but has not
been able to contribute with the willow
in hand. That number 7 role, I believe,
should be reserved for a batsman who
has the ability to contribute with the ball
if needed. Dwaine Pretorius is a fantastic
cricketer, but in my opinion, is a bowler
who can contribute with the bat. If
Test Cricket is Alive and Well! field and turned twos into singles. Simply replaced by a specialist batsman, Faf du
It was in the shadow of Table Mountain put, they performed the basics at a more Plessis could be asked to use Maharaj and
where I had the privilege of attending consistent level than the Proteas for five Philander to do a ‘holding’ job with the
one of the most enthralling test matches days and thoroughly deserve to go into softer and older ball, while Rabada and
in recent memory, in fact, if I were the much-needed break leading into the Nortje operate as the ‘strike’ bowlers of
to develop a set of criteria for what third test on an equal footing to South the attack.
constitutes good test cricket, this would Africa.
probably have ticked all the boxes. Moving on, it’s a funny phenomenon What would I do? Personally, I believe
A beautiful stadium with an even in cricket that you seem to never want that we need to back Dwaine Pretorius
more beautiful view, a packed house, to make changes to a winning side, but as the all-rounder for the series. Maharaj
youngsters, legends, battles within a after a defeat, gaping holes in the playing has struggled thus far, and I would feel
battle, two evenly matched sides, the XI suddenly appear and, in my opinion, very vulnerable going into a series-
Barmy Army, and most importantly, an we’re often too quick to call for a player’s deciding test with three seamers and
even contest between bat and ball. head. Personally, given the players a spinner (who is low on confidence)
that are available in the current squad, without any realistic 5th bowling option,
The ebb and flow of that test match had and without having too much to work aside from Dean Elgar. Stick with the
me on the edge of my seat for all five days with from the ongoing 4-day franchise same XI, give Dwaine and Hamza as
and I would go as far as to argue that all fixtures, I would go with an unchanged much time as we have given others before
four possible results were on the cards side into the third test. Having said that, we pass judgement, and let’s work on
going into the final day. Having said I wouldn’t be surprised or rather, a case doing the fundamentals well.
that, momentum was definitely in favour could be made to shake up the playing
of the touring side after the all too the XI altogether. Hamza and du Plessis I’ll hopefully see you all in Port Elizabeth
familiar batting collapse that the current have yet to offer much in the form of for what is likely to be a cracker of a
Proteas side has become notorious for, runs and with an in form, eager and ever game!
occurred in their 1st innings. Props must promising Keegan Petersen hungry for
go to the English spearhead and fast a spot, partnered with the pressure of Daniel @ https://twitter.com/
bowling legend Jimmy Anderson who defeat weighing on the back of selectors DanCricket93 & Daniel @ https://
showed that even at the ripe age of 37, minds, we could see him make a debut in straightsport.wixsite.com/website
he still has all the skills and ‘prowess’ of that number 3 slot.
anyone in the game.

Now I am not one to go into the intricate
details of each day’s play, but regardless of
proceedings going down to the final hour
of the final day, I’d argue that there was
a definite inevitability about the result,
and dare I say, a definite sense that we got
a fair outcome. England outplayed the
Proteas in all three departments of the
game. They were more patient, resilient,
and confident with that bat, they not only
had clear games plans with the ball, but
stuck to them relentlessly, and lastly, they
took their catches, applied pressure in the

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