Proteas bring out the big guns

Bangladesh were all out for 326 in their first innings to take a 78-run lead over South Africa, the third day of the first Test. Photo: Dinuka Liyanawatte

Bangladesh were all out for 326 in their first innings to take a 78-run lead over South Africa, the third day of the first Test. Photo: Dinuka Liyanawatte

Published Jul 20, 2015

Share

Chittagong – A return to white flannels, red balls and a format in which they are ranked No 1 in the world will hopefully be the tonic the Proteas require to get their tour of Bangladesh back on track on Tuesday in the first Test at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium.

After a resounding victory in the Twenty20 series, the South Africans hit a speed bump of almighty proportions when the Tigers re-wrote history by defeating the Proteas 2-1 in the ODI series – a first-ever for Bangladesh.

But after a few days off due to the Eid festivities here in Chittagong, the Proteas have managed to re-group and focus squarely on a format they understand very well. The Proteas’ chances have also been boosted with the addition of supreme pace bowlers Dale Steyn, who is four wickets away from joining the exclusive “400 club” and his new-ball partner Vernon Philander.

“Test cricket is a largely different format. We have lot of new guys in the team and also a lot of guys who have played a lot of Test cricket. Guys like Dale and Vernon who have joined us here. Test cricket is a different format. It is not what Bangladesh do, it is what we do.,” Proteas Test captain Hashim Amla said yesterday.

History suggests South Africa should not have too much trouble dusting off their hosts. In eight previous contests, the Proteas have romped to victory by an innings seven times and required only four days to finish the job in the other encounter. The numbers become even scarier for Bangladesh when South Africa’s overall record in Chittagong is taken to account, with former captain Graeme Smith (236) and Neil McKenzie (226) compiling a world-record 415-run opening stand at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, then known as the Chittagong Divisional Stadium, during the Proteas’ last Test in the port-side city seven years ago.

Prior to Smith and McKenzie’s marathon stand, there was an even bigger unbroken partnership of 429 between Jacques Rudolph (222*) and Boeta Dippenaar (177*) back in 2003 at the now-defunct MA Aziz Stadium.

It is highly unlikely that Bangladesh will have to wait for 844 runs to be added to the scoreboard before claiming a wicket in this two-match series. Likewise, having been at the helm during the ODI series defeat, Amla is wise enough not to get too carried away with the statistics favouring his team.

“The way Bangladesh have played, they have been the in-form team in ODI’S and I am sure they will take that confidence into the Tests,” he said.

South Africa are travelling with plenty new faces in their 15-man Test squad, with four possible debutants (Kagiso Rabada, Reeza Hendricks, Dane Vilas, Aaron Phangiso) and three players (Stiaan Van Zyl, Temba Bavuma, Simon Harmer) that have played only a sum total of five Tests.

Amla was not ready to unveil his starting XI prior to training on Monday, only hinting that there could be a few new Baggy Greens handed out during this two-match series. “Our team hasn’t been finalised. We do have quite a few guys that could make their debuts in this series,” Amla explained.

Proteas Test squad

Hashim Amla (captain), Dean Elgar, Reeza Hendricks, Faf du Plessis, Stiaan van Zyl, JP Duminy, Quinton de Kock (wk), Vernon Philander, Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel, Aaron Phangiso, Simon Harmer, Temba Bavuma, Kagiso Rabada, Dane Vilas (wk).

Start: 6am (SA time)

TV: SS2, Radio: SabcRadio 2000

Related Topics: