Proteas series victory over West Indies underscores where work is needed

Shukri Conrad (Head Coach) of South Africa being interviewed at the post match press conference during day 2 of the 2nd Test match between South Africa and India at Newlands Cricket Ground on January 04, 2024 in Cape Town, South Africa. (Photo by Grant Pitcher/Gallo Images)

By Keanan Hemmonsbey

19 Aug 2024

The Proteas’ batting remains their “Achilles heel”, according to red-ball coach Shukri Conrad.

The Proteas claimed a 1-0 series win over West Indies after defeating the Caribbean side by 40 runs in the second Test in Guyana after the first Test match was drawn due to incessant rainfall.

The victory was neither clinical nor dominant, but it was crucial for the development of a side that is short on experience to claim their first series win since the start of last year and their first away series win since mid-2021 — both also against West Indies.

South Africa’s bowling line-up, as on so many occasions as before, led the way in the side’s series victory.

Left-arm spin bowler Keshav Maharaj finished the series as the highest wicket taker on the spin-friendly surfaces with 13 scalps — becoming the country’s most prolific red-ball slow bowler, surpassing Hugh Tayfield’s 170-wicket tally by one.

Fast bowling spearhead Kagiso Rabada went into the tour of the Caribbean needing nine wickets to become the sixth South African to reach 300 Test wickets. He fell agonisingly close by only picking up eight scalps — the second highest number of scalps on tour after Maharaj.

“Our biggest goal was to come to the Caribbean to win the series, and I’m happy we were able to do so,” Test skipper Temba Bavuma said after the second Test.

Shukri Conrad, the head coach of South Africa, says the signs are there that the current crop of Proteas have the potential to become a really good Test team. (Photo by Grant Pitcher/Gallo Images)

“Along the way, we played some good cricket, we were put under pressure, and we were able to have answers during those periods.

“I’m very satisfied; winning away from home is never an easy feat, and we should not take it for granted. Our group will take a lot of confidence from the series win, especially with a couple of young faces in our squad.”

Batting woes

While the bowling was outstanding, South Africa’s batting was rescued by late-order partnerships on two occasions in the second Test.

In the first innings, Dane Piedt and Nandre Burger took the side from 97 for the loss of nine wickets to 160 all out thanks to a brilliant rearguard 63-run last wicket partnership.

In the second innings, a top-order collapse meant Kyle Verreynne and Wiaan Mulder managed an 85-run stand to help the side set West Indies 262 runs for victory.

The runs were vital given South Africa’s close margin of victory.

“From a results point of view, we are really happy we were able to win the series; that’s what we set out to do,” red-ball coach Shukri Conrad said after the match.

“Whether we were entirely happy with the performance — I think there’s room for improvement. I thought we did a lot of things really well, but we also did a few things not so well, especially in the batting department, which remains an Achilles heel for us.”

Bavuma and Aiden Markram were surrounded by Test rookies in the top five.

Opener Tony de Zorzi top scored in the series with 163 runs, showing great application in his scores of 45, 78, 39 and 1, without kicking on to get that one big score.

Tristan Stubbs, coming in at first drop, was the second leading run getter, with 138. He scored a maiden half-century with a counterattacking 68 in the first Test in order to force a result in the match.

Conventional

In his other three innings on tour, where he tried to play a more conventional No 3 role, he did well to get himself set with three scores in the 20s, but lost his wicket soon after, all in the same fashion — edging behind while feeling at balls outside his off stump.

“With young and inexperienced Test batters, you factor in that, every now and then, you’re going to have a few aberrations with the bat, like we had on Saturday morning, or in a Test or two before this,” Conrad said.

David Bedingham meanwhile failed to get going at all, with a top score of 29 and another of 29 while getting a duck in his final knock.

“The vital signs are there that we can go on to become a really good Test unit; the skill sets are there,” Conrad said. “It’s really just experience we need. Our bowlers are always going to keep us in the contest because they are of that quality, and it’s really for our batters to gain the necessary experience.

“I think with experience, you'll see fewer soft dismissals, less folding when bowlers bowl well, and more of a fight with the bat.”

South Africa are scheduled to take on Bangladesh in Bangladesh in a two-match tour in October, but due to the unrest in the country there is uncertainty whether the series will proceed. DM

Categories:

Tags:

DM is much better if you are signed in...

South Africa