Wayne Parnell? Kyle Abbott or Chris Morris? Or both‚ and not Dane Piedt?
South Africa’s bowlers had only a dozen overs to show what they could do before the weather ruined the first test at Kingsmead — but conditions at Centurion‚ where the second test starts on Saturday‚ could prompt changes in the home side’s XI.
A significant part of the uncertainty is caused by the fact that only one of the 168 first-class matches that have been played at Centurion have been staged in August.
“The wicket looks a touch on the soft side‚ a little bit moist‚” SA captain Faf du Plessis said on Friday.
“It’s quite a tough decision to make. We’re trying to look at all the angles.
“We’re not too sure what to expect — we think it might be slow.
“We’re looking at all the different combinations‚ whether it’s playing an allrounder or an extra seamer or without playing a spinner. We’re not sure yet.”
The allrounder would be Parnell‚ who hasn’t played a test in more than two years but could provide the shock wave
South Africa need to rattle through New Zealand’s middle order.
But his inclusion‚ perhaps at the expense of JP Duminy‚ could further expose a batting line-up that wasn’t as steady as it might have been in Durban‚ where SA were dismissed for 263.
On the strength of his 69 against England at Newlands in January‚ Morris could be another allrounder candidate.
Abbott‚ however‚ has bowled almost three times as many deliveries than Morris in first-class matches at Centurion.
Piedt has one wicket to show for the 186 balls he has sent down in first-class cricket at Centurion‚ but the pitch does not seem likely to support an argument for an all-seam attack.
Intriguing options thus await‚ including what to do at the toss.
“It’s about weighing when it will be the most difficult to bat — on day one when there’s green grass or on day five when it’s up and down‚” Du Plessis said.
But there was no doubting what he thought of the outfield‚ particularly in the wake of the Kingsmead test being robbed of three full days’ play by unseasonal rain falling on grassless patches of a recently relayed ground.
“The outfield looks amazing‚” Du Plessis said about Centurion’s handsome greensward‚ which has been replanted with rye grass — which flourishes in Gauteng’s winters.
“It’s the best I’ve ever seen it and it’s supposed to be brown and yellow at this time of the year.”
Something else Du Plessis was sure of was the importance to SA of victory at Centurion.
“We badly want to win‚” he said. “We’ve said to each other that with every game we play we want to be more positive from a mental point of view.
“It doesn’t mean changing the way we play but we just want to try and win tests.
“We want to try and play a brand of test cricket that will get us across the line.”
Winning would earn SA the series and push them one place up the rankings to No. 6. — TMG Digital/The Times
Another unpredictable pitch dogs predictions on Proteas’s second test in Centurion
Wayne Parnell? Kyle Abbott or Chris Morris? Or both‚ and not Dane Piedt?
South Africa’s bowlers had only a dozen overs to show what they could do before the weather ruined the first test at Kingsmead — but conditions at Centurion‚ where the second test starts on Saturday‚ could prompt changes in the home side’s XI.
A significant part of the uncertainty is caused by the fact that only one of the 168 first-class matches that have been played at Centurion have been staged in August.
“The wicket looks a touch on the soft side‚ a little bit moist‚” SA captain Faf du Plessis said on Friday.
“It’s quite a tough decision to make. We’re trying to look at all the angles.
“We’re not too sure what to expect — we think it might be slow.
“We’re looking at all the different combinations‚ whether it’s playing an allrounder or an extra seamer or without playing a spinner. We’re not sure yet.”
The allrounder would be Parnell‚ who hasn’t played a test in more than two years but could provide the shock wave
South Africa need to rattle through New Zealand’s middle order.
But his inclusion‚ perhaps at the expense of JP Duminy‚ could further expose a batting line-up that wasn’t as steady as it might have been in Durban‚ where SA were dismissed for 263.
On the strength of his 69 against England at Newlands in January‚ Morris could be another allrounder candidate.
Abbott‚ however‚ has bowled almost three times as many deliveries than Morris in first-class matches at Centurion.
Piedt has one wicket to show for the 186 balls he has sent down in first-class cricket at Centurion‚ but the pitch does not seem likely to support an argument for an all-seam attack.
Intriguing options thus await‚ including what to do at the toss.
“It’s about weighing when it will be the most difficult to bat — on day one when there’s green grass or on day five when it’s up and down‚” Du Plessis said.
But there was no doubting what he thought of the outfield‚ particularly in the wake of the Kingsmead test being robbed of three full days’ play by unseasonal rain falling on grassless patches of a recently relayed ground.
“The outfield looks amazing‚” Du Plessis said about Centurion’s handsome greensward‚ which has been replanted with rye grass — which flourishes in Gauteng’s winters.
“It’s the best I’ve ever seen it and it’s supposed to be brown and yellow at this time of the year.”
Something else Du Plessis was sure of was the importance to SA of victory at Centurion.
“We badly want to win‚” he said. “We’ve said to each other that with every game we play we want to be more positive from a mental point of view.
“It doesn’t mean changing the way we play but we just want to try and win tests.
“We want to try and play a brand of test cricket that will get us across the line.”
Winning would earn SA the series and push them one place up the rankings to No. 6. — TMG Digital/The Times
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