South Africa ponder on team balance against upbeat Aussies
20 Feb 2014 4:57 AM IST
Australia were clearly superior in all three disciplines in their crushing 281-run victory in the first Test in Pretoria last week, the excellent Ashes form of fast bowler Mitchell Johnson repeated at SuperSport Park as he literally hurt the South African batsmen with 12 wickets and numerous body blows.
One of those was to the side of the head of all-rounder Ryan McLaren, who has subsequently been ruled out of the second Test with concussion meaning there will be at least one change to the Proteas line-up. It is possible McLaren might have lost his position in any event as South Africa admit they are considering replacing an all-rounder with a seventh batsman in Dean Elgar.
Aside from the two half-centuries of AB de Villiers, the top six South African batsmen managed just 57 runs in the first innings in Pretoria and 68 in the second. The left-handed Elgar’s Test career, which started with a pair of ducks on debut against Australia in Perth in 2012 when he was bagged both times by Johnson, has been mediocre with a single unbeaten century against New Zealand and a next highest score of 27 in nine innings.
Having chosen not to call up a replacement for McLaren to their Test squad, Elgar is the only specialist batsman available for selection. ‘There (has been) debate around playing an extra batter. Australia went in batting-heavy, relying on their three seamers and their spinner, which they did successfully. We need to consider putting in a batter at seven. Then we can go in with the three quicks and Robbie P (Peterson),’ convener of selectors Andrew Hudson told reporters.
One of those was to the side of the head of all-rounder Ryan McLaren, who has subsequently been ruled out of the second Test with concussion meaning there will be at least one change to the Proteas line-up. It is possible McLaren might have lost his position in any event as South Africa admit they are considering replacing an all-rounder with a seventh batsman in Dean Elgar.
Aside from the two half-centuries of AB de Villiers, the top six South African batsmen managed just 57 runs in the first innings in Pretoria and 68 in the second. The left-handed Elgar’s Test career, which started with a pair of ducks on debut against Australia in Perth in 2012 when he was bagged both times by Johnson, has been mediocre with a single unbeaten century against New Zealand and a next highest score of 27 in nine innings.
Having chosen not to call up a replacement for McLaren to their Test squad, Elgar is the only specialist batsman available for selection. ‘There (has been) debate around playing an extra batter. Australia went in batting-heavy, relying on their three seamers and their spinner, which they did successfully. We need to consider putting in a batter at seven. Then we can go in with the three quicks and Robbie P (Peterson),’ convener of selectors Andrew Hudson told reporters.
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