Everybody who watched South Africa on Sunday who were disbelievers before now surely accept the gospel that the Proteas are the world’s No1 Test side. Performances in England and Australia over the past 12 months professed it, while the rankings confirmed it.
With sceptics however, only seeing leads to actually believing. And here at their “marquee venue”, Graeme Smith’s team operated with a resilience and conviction in conditions that were not always favourable to their desired mode of attack.
It did not always make for “pretty cricket” but then again champagne Test cricket is not always pleasing to the eye. From the moment Smith won the toss and inserted Pakistan against popular opinion, there were several periods in an enthralling match that they were required to dig deeper than they have had to all summer.
Pakistan had bossed the game for the best of two and half days. Younus Khan and Asad Shafiq’s twin centuries along with Saeed Ajmal’s 10 wickets had given the visitors hope. But each time, the Proteas responded as champions do by finding a way, and their exhibition on the final day was relentless.
“This is one of the more rewarding victories we’ve had. We want to keep producing these types of results. We don’t sit in the change-room believing the stuff of invincibility,” Smith said. “It’s nice to know we are a team that can perform in different conditions. We were speaking about recognising the moment and that’s what we did in this match.”
Finding a visible weak link in this rampant Proteas Test side is a tough task. There were those who suggested it was the left-arm spin of Robin Peterson, especially in correlation with South Africa’s vaunted pace attack. South Africa, under Smith, have yet to conquer in lands such as India, Sri Lanka and the UAE, and it is here where the Proteas’ spin frailties might be exposed.
Newlands was no Eden Gardens, Galle or Dubai Cricket Stadium this past week, but like Ajmal showed there was sufficient assistance for the spinners on a slowish track. However, what Peterson established with his Man-of-the-Match performance was that he is by no means the weakest link.
There are also few better equipped individuals to describe how the Proteas have transformed over the past decade, especially since Peterson played his first Test when Smith was only leading South Africa for the second time back in 2003 in Dhaka.
“The guys are maturing and there is a good mix of older heads and younger players. Graeme has matured as a captain, Gary [Kirsten] has made a big difference and Jacques Kallis is there for experience. We’ve got exciting bowlers and good batting depth. It’s mentally draining to play a Test match like this but good to come out of it like we did,” Peterson added.
Another major positive to emerge over recent months is the depth that South Africa have enjoyed. Despite injuries to key players such as Mark Boucher, Vernon Philander, JP Duminy and Kallis during this record-breaking last 18 months at various times, there has always been an able substitute ready to take advantage of his opportunity.
It should be no different this week leading up to final Pakistan Test at Centurion. Fast bowler Morné Morkel, the third member of the pace trio, is unlikely to get a run out at his home ground due to a hamstring strain. Morkel left the field in the first innings, and came back to bowl only a further 19 balls in the second before having to again get treatment from physiotherapist Brendon Jackson.
Cobras opening bowler Rory Kleinveldt, who has already played three Tests this summer, will in all likelihood get another crack at Test match cricket. “Each week is a different challenge but it’s nice to have the confidence to know that we are a team that can perform,” Smith said.
l South Africa are set to pocket $450000 (about R3,95-million) after they guaranteed the No1 position in the ICC Test Championship beyond the April 1 cut-off date for prize money to be awarded in 2013. The prize money is a significant increase from previous years, when $175000 was given to the teams topping the Test or one-day international championship table. - The Star