Proteas player ratings against Sri Lanka

South Africa celebrate their 3-0 victory in the series against Sri Lanka. Photo: Muzi Ntombela/Backpagepix

South Africa celebrate their 3-0 victory in the series against Sri Lanka. Photo: Muzi Ntombela/Backpagepix

Published Jan 16, 2017

Share

Johannesburg - The Proteas may have secured a clean sweep victory in the Test series against Sri Lanka, but not all of the individual performances were as good as the team's. Independent Media cricket writer Zaahier Adams has scored each player out of ten.

9.5

Vernon Philander: 17 wickets at 14.58, BB: 5/21

South Africa’s Mr Consistency. Philander could easily have walked away with his second consecutive Man of the Series award, after collecting the gong in Australia recently, such was his excellence during this home Test summer. In the absence of Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel, the most senior member of the Proteas attack has relished the extra responsibility. Admittedly conditions were tailored to suit his type of seam bowling with green-tinged surfaces prepared all around the country, but there is still no greater exponent of the art in the world. Philander often toyed with the Sri Lankan batsmen, exposing their technical deficiencies in such conditions which played a major role in no visiting batsmen coming close to registering a century on tour. South Africa’s next Test assignments are away to New Zealand and England. Providing he stays fit Philander should be in his element once more. He only misses out on a perfect 10 as a bigger contribution with the bat would have been appreciated.

9

Kagiso Rabada: 19 wickets at 17.15, BB: 6/55

South Africa’s young tearaway proved once again to be a major threat to the opposition, even when he wasn’t at his best. Rabada admitted at Newlands that "I didn't feel good rhythm in Port Elizabeth” when he was uncharacteristically wayward and expensive in the first Test. But such is the quality of this unique 21-year-old that he immediately hit back in the New Year Test to bag a six-wicket haul to record a second career “ten-for”. To fully understand the magnitude of this achievement, former great South African fast bowler Allan Donald only achieved this distinction three times over the course of his 72-match Test career. Rabada will miss the upcoming T20 series against the islanders to enjoy a much-needed break from the action.

Photo: Deryck Foster/BackpagePix

Dean Elgar: 308 runs at 61.60, HS: 129

South Africa’s openers were superb in the first two matches of the series which ensured the team management’s instructions to prepare green wickets did not backfire. Their ability to be compact in their techniques, showing the necessary discipline outside the off stump, was a lesson to the struggling Sri Lankan batsmen. Elgar, in particular, simplified his gameplan to such an extent that he only unleashed a scoring shot when the Sri Lankan bowlers erred in either their lengths or line. There were starts of 45 and 52 at St George’s Park, which only served to frustrate the gritty left-hander, but like Rabada he found his groove at in the marquee Test of the year with a splendid century. The partnership with Stephen Cook at the top of the order also seems to be blossoming which can only be to South Africa’s benefit moving forward and the Man of the Series award was richly deserved.

8.5

JP Duminy: 273 runs at 54.60, HS: 155

Duminy 2.0! Such has been the classy left-hander’s transformation since moving to the No 4 position that it has almost been the rebirth of a player that has always had the potential but not always delivered. Playing with a new sense of freedom Duminy has relished the tough moments during the series. Using positive aggression instead of previous caution Duminy often wrested back the initiative with glorious cover drives that knocked back the Sri Lankan bowling attack just when they seemed to be getting on top of the home side. A fluent 63 in PE in a low first innings team score was followed up with a superb century at the Wanderers. The 155 at the Bullring was a sight for sore eyes as it even outshone Hashim Amla’s return to form in his 100th Test. His catching was also superb, most notably the sublime effort in the final Test.

Quinton de Kock: 270 runs at 54.00, HS: 101, Catches: 15, Stumping 1

South Africa have a burgeoning superstar walking to the crease at No 7 for them. For all the talk of his talent wasted down the order, it certainly is a demoralising feeling for the opposition. De Kock has thrived in this role and often changes the momentum of the game in the brisk manner which he scores his runs – 69 off 86 balls at St George’s Park – and then again in Cape Town when he smashed 101 off only 124 balls. His keeping was once again exemplary despite one dropped chance in PE and just has that ability to take the spectacular ones like his one-handed dive at the Wanderers in the final Test that made legendary Bullring keeper Ray “The Jet” Jennings gasp in appreciation in the commentary box above.

7

Faf du Plessis: 199 runs at 49.75, HS: 67*

After being the centre of attention for the majority of the preceding Australian tour, the now permanent Proteas Test captain took a back seat during this series. Du Plessis would not have minded as it allowed him to focus on leading well on the field and not be distracted with off-field issues once again. On this occasion it was the Kolpak dramas after the Newlands Test with Kyle Abbott and Rilee Rossouw both opting to pursue their futures in England which makes them ineligible to represent South Africa for the next four years. Du Plessis, though, kept his side fully switched on to complete the whitewash and his third consecutive Test series win as captain. There may not have been as many runs as he would have liked, but you simply can’t keep the skipper away from the cameras. A brilliant one-handed catch way above his head in Sri Lanka’s final innings had everyone speechless. Faf is just that guy!

Stephen Cook: 216 runs at 43.20, HS: 117

The 34-year-old started the series with a bang in PE to register his second successive Test century in the second innings. This came after a first innings half-century too. Considering the conditions and Cook’s overall first-class record at St George’s Park – he previously averaged 15 in the Windy City – it was a monumental effort that set the tone for the home side. Cook will always be under scrutiny due to his advanced age and irregular technique, but the Highveld Lions captain deserves to walk out to open the innings for his country in New Zealand.

6

Hashim Amla: 231 runs at 46.20 HS: 134

Form is temporary but class remains permanent. Amla resembled a tortured soul during the first two Tests as he brought his poor run from Australia with him home. But when it mattered most, his 100th Test here in Johannesburg, South Africa’s most senior player rose to the occasion like the greats of the game generally do. Admittedly it was a tough start to the innings as he benefited from a drop catch in the last over before close of play on the first day, but as he has shown throughout his career nobody makes the opposition regret a missed opportunity as much as Amla does. The latter part of the innings was trademark

Amla though as those silky wrists came flowing back while the punches off the back foot through the covers were a joy to watch once again.

Wayne Parnell: 6 wickets at 14.83 BB: 4/51

After Kyle Abbott’s shock departure mid-way through the series the opportunity for Parnell to lay claim to the third seamer’s spot suddenly presented itself at the Wanderers. He put his front foot forward with a career-best performance in the second innings that closed out the Test and series and will look to build on that should he be granted another opportunity in New Zealand. Having played plenty of domestic cricket recently, the benefits are certainly showing with the left-arm seamer looking to be consistent with his areas instead of searching for the extra pace. A potential asset for the Test side as he showed in his one innings that he can confidently contribute with the bat too.

Duanne Olivier: 5 wickets at 11.40 BB: 3/38

Olivier could not have dreamt of making his Test debut in better circumstances this past weekend at the Wanderers. A surface that offered all of pace, bounce and seam movement against a Sri Lankan batting line-up that had already been softened up after previous beatings awaited him. He was going to let this gilt-edged opportunity pass him by. The youngster bowled with good pace and aggression and was rewarded with five wickets in the match. More importantly, he showed that South African cricket will continue to produce quality young cricketers.

Keshav Maharaj: 7 wickets at 30.28 BB: 3/86

South Africa’s spinners have traditionally had to be content with playing second fiddle to the seamers and Maharaj would have learnt this over the course of his first home Test summer. Conditions were certainly not engineered to assist Maharaj especially with his “hero” Rangana Herath in the opposition line-up. The left-armer, though, did all that was expected of him and the team management continue to hold his contributions in high esteem even after being left out in favour of an all-seam attack at the Wanderers.

2

Kyle Abbott: 5 wickets at 31.20, BB: 3/63

Abbott is a player who will always be remembered for the stark differences in his Test debut (9/68) and final Test (wicketless) contributions. The fact that Newlands was his last Test appearance for the Proteas is of his own doing though as the 29-year-old seamer opted to end his international career by signing a Kolpak just when he cemented his place. With high-profile tours to New Zealand and England on the horizon the timing of the decision was strange, and more importantly, the fact that he chose to hide it from his teammates and management just left a sour taste in the mouth.

1

Temba Bavuma 21 runs at 4.20, HS: 10

The second home Test summer for Bavuma could not have been more contrasting than the first. After celebrating a maiden century last year – the first Black African batsman to hit a Test ton – it was horrible crash to earth for the little right-hander this time. Two ducks and some poor shot selection has placed Bavuma under immense pressure to hold onto his place in the side despite some noteworthy performances on the recent Australian tour just a couple of months ago. His only saving grace may be the fact that AB de Villiers is uncertain of his Test future moving forward.

Related Topics: