The South African batting machine, so effectively nullified by India in Melbourne 10 days ago, seems to be in perfect working order once more.
There are a couple of factors for that being the case; India, somewhat surprisingly, have been the best bowling unit the South Africans have faced hitherto at the tournament. Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Shami and Mohit Sharma, stuck meticulously to a carefully thought-out plan – no doubt developed by their coach Duncan Fletcher – which allied aggression and discipline, to inhibit South Africa’s powerful top-order.
The West Indies and Ireland, who South Africa have faced since, have been unable to sustain whatever pressure they’ve created; the West Indies crumbled against the creative genius that is AB de Villiers, while the Irish made a grave error in dropping Hashim Amla early in his innings on Tuesday in Canberra.
Confidence has been restored. South Africa’s two best batsmen have two of the four highest scores of the tournament, while De Villiers’ men also became the first team in history to record totals of at least 400 in back-to-back One-Day Internationals.
Amla’s contributions have been especially important. The quietly-spoken, elegant right-hander was certainly the primary victim of India’s microscopic strategising at the MCG with their back-of-a-length and very straight deliveries neutralising his ability to score quickly.
South Africa’s subsequent opponents have failed to adopt – or in the West Indies’ case sustain – such a plan to him and he has thrived making a crucial 65 in Sydney followed by that career-best 159 in Canberra on Tuesday.
“You’d like to score runs in every game,” he said about his slow start to the tournament. “But I don’t think that’s quite possible, unless you’re Don Bradman or AB de Villiers. We try and cash in wherever we can and get some runs.”
Once again Amla had to be circumspect initially owing to another failure from opening partner Quinton de Kock. While Amla was once again effusive in his support for his young teammate, there is growing concern about De Kock’s output at the top of the order which thusfar in the tournament add up to a total of 27 runs from four innings.
“Everybody, myself and AB, goes through a few games where you don’t get runs, and I’ve always seen it as a silver lining because we all know that he’s due runs, and I suppose on a personal level for him, when he does score runs, he’ll appreciate it a lot more.”
“Everything has a benefit to it, and the fact that he’s not getting runs and we’re still managing to get some good totals on the board, I think it’s a nice situation to be in and I’m sure and I know that he’ll come good.”
That’s a neat piece of spin by Amla, but it is understood that at selection meetings, De Kock’s lack of form has been cause for concern and alternatives have been discussed. De Villiers may be a reluctant keeper, especially when he has to captain the team, but if it means the delicate and oft-spoken balance of the side is improved with him going behind the stumps, he’ll take on the job.
Rilee Rossouw, with aggressive and crucial half-centuries in the last two matches is becoming increasingly difficult to drop and JP Duminy must be accommodated for this weekend’s match against Pakistan at Eden Park.
For now though it appears as if De Kock will retain his spot, but he better score some runs in the next two matches or else he’ll be carrying drinks by the time the knockout matches roll around. - Cape Argus