Cape Town – They ran through the opposition for just 103, but the Proteas bowling attack will be pleased to have come through their first encounter with the pink ball in a match situation in their opening tour game in Adelaide on Sunday.
The five South African pacemen took two wickets each on the final day against a Cricket Australia XI at the Adelaide Oval as they dismissed the opposition in just 30.4 overs.
It was unfortunate that the CA XI wasn’t a stronger batting unit, as South African coach Russell Domingo would’ve probably wanted to see the condition of the pink ball after 60 overs or so in preparation for the third and final Test against Australia at the same venue at the end of the month.
But at least he got to see two of his “fringe” bowlers, Kyle Abbott and Morné Morkel, getting in some work. Dale Steyn, Vernon Philander and Kagiso Rabada will definitely line up for the first Test at the Waca in Perth on November 3, but the Proteas selectors will have to decide whether to opt for an all-seam attack or to include a spinner.
On the evidence of this game, though, the former is the likely path that they’ll take as Tabraiz Shamsi got in just three overs on Sunday, and it appears as if Abbott has the inside line for the fourth specialist bowling spot as he sent down six overs along with the first-choice trio, with Morkel only coming on as a fifth bowler to take the last two wickets to fall in 3.4 overs.
Abbott was in top form during the 5-0 ODI whitewash against the Aussies in South Africa recently, and will hope to continue in the same vein if he gets the nod for the first Test.
He told the cricket.com.au website on Sunday that the considerable grass covering helped the fast bowlers get movement off the deck. “It seems to nip around a bit when the lights come on, not so much during the day. But there’s a bit of grass on this wicket, so there has been a bit of assistance if you hit the deck hard and get it in the right areas,” Abbott said.
“Not a huge amount of swing, just a bit more nip off the surface. I don’t think we’ve seen this much grass on a pitch for seven years. It would be nice (if more Test pitches were in similar condition) and it would be even better if it (the grass) changed colour to a tinge of green.
“But I think it’s just to keep the ball in nick, and even after 15 overs, it started to peel a bit. Even on this, so it will be interesting to see how it holds up in the Test match. And if they do leave a bit of grass on and with the lush outfield, it should stay in shape and shiny for much longer.”
But the Proteas bowled before the lights came on, so the batsmen were able to get valuable time in the middle at night again. Stephen Cook only got to 11 to add to his first-innings five, so he will hope to get some runs in the second tour game next Thursday and Friday, but Rilee Rossouw came good with 77 off 84 balls (9x4, 3x6).
Captain Faf du Plessis and Temba Bavuma were out for 20 and 21 respectively, but JP Duminy added an unbeaten 32 to the 97 from his first knock.
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