CAPE TOWN - Independent Media cricket writer Zaahier Adams has given each of the Proteas a score out of ten for their performances in the recently concluded ODI series against New Zealand.
Quinton de Kock: 7/10
200 runs @ 40.00, HS: 69, 50’s: 3
South Africa’s Mr Consistency began the series with three consecutive fifties and looked set to be New Zealand’s chief-nemesis in this ODI series. However, the Black Caps are a crafty bunch and recalled Jeetan Patel, who had only played one previous ODI in eight years. The trick worked immediately for the home side with the veteran off-spinner picking up De Kock for a duck and six in the remaining two matches. South Africa’s opposition in the ICC Champions Trophy would have been alerted to this tactic against the left-hander early on in his innings and De Kock will need to work on his shot-selection against off-spinners in the intervening months.
Hashim Amla: 3/10
100 runs @ 20.00, HS: 40, 50s: 0
New Zealand has previously been a happy hunting ground for the “Mighty#” with the right-hander averaging 58.66 and 56.33 in ODI series gone by. However, the latest trip has not proved to be a good one for Amla with the opener struggling to get going throughout. A classy 62 in the once-off T20I at Eden Park promised much but it proved to be a false dawn. Besides last year’s Tri-Series in the Caribbean where Amla averaged 48.66, it continues a worrying overseas trend. Amla has averaged 31.20, 17.00, 17.80 and now 20.00 in his last five ODI series away from home. With the ICC Champions Trophy set for England later this year, hopefully a return to the country where Amla averaged 111.2 the last time he visited will rekindle the magic touch.
Faf du Plessis: 6.5/10
179 runs @ 44.75, HS: 67, 50s: 2
Even when the Test skipper is not at his free-flowing best, he finds a way to gain success like he did during this ODI series. Du Plessis would undoubtedly have been frustrated by getting out every time he was set during this series. However, he has joined the legion of “greats” like his ODI captain AB de Villiers attested to and proved it with a crucial innings in the series-decider in Auckland. After the early dismissals of openers De Kock and Amla, South Africa could easily have folded under the pressure of chasing a low target but Du Plessis kept the Proteas ship on track with a calming undefeated half-century.
AB de Villiers: 9/10
262 runs @ 87.33, HS: 85, 50s: 2
De Villiers showed the value of being fresh and hungry for international cricket as he just appeared a little sharper than the rest of his teammates during this series. The ODI skipper may not have made the big centuries that he’s become renowned for, but traded it for valuable runs in almost every game that proved to the be difference between the closely-matched sides. New Zealanders had become so tired of watching De Villiers foil their team that the front page’s of the local tabloids ahead of the Eden Park decider ran with the headline “STOP AB”! De Villiers enjoyed being back in the team and leading from the front and will now recharge the batteries before launching the ICC Champions Trophy assault in May. He will be missed during the Test series.
AB de Villiers celebrates the run out of Kane Williamson in the final ODI. Photo: Andrew Cornaga / www.photosport.nz
79 runs @ 15.80, HS: 34, SR: 59.39, 0 wickets @ 00.00, Econ: 6.71
Arguably South Africa’s biggest headache heading into the ICC Champions Trophy. The left-hander has been unable to transfer his recent upsurge in the Test arena into the one-day set up and is walking on terribly thin ice. Duminy occupies a crucial place in the middle-order and has even been afforded the premier No 4 position ahead of De Villiers on occasion during this past series in the hope that it would bring the best out of him like it has in the longer format. Duminy is not contributing with the ball at the moment either and South Africa can ill afford to have an out-form Duminy at the Champions Trophy. In reverse, his fielding in the inner-ring was excellent throughout and even struck with a couple of direct hits that has slightly lifted his rating.
David Miller: 5/10
77 runs @ 25.66, HS: 45*, 50s: 0
Miller was another left-hander that found the going tough on the New Zealand pitches. Having missed the T20I and first ODI due to a finger injury sustained in the preceding Sri Lanka series, the 27-year-old was off the pace when he rejoined the team. But when it mattered most, Miller delivered with a bruising 45 not out at Eden Park to seal the series with Du Plessis. South Africa are going to need an in-form Miller at the Champions Trophy.
Wayne Parnell: 6/10
64 runs @ 21.33, HS: 35, 50s: 0, 3 wickets @ 42.00, BB: 2/33, Econ: 5.47
Pure numbers do not indicate Parnell’s contribution during this series. He was steady with the new-ball throughout, although possibly leaking a bit too much at the backend of the innings. He flourished with the bat in two hugely-pressurised situations, assisting his captain De Villiers, in helping South Africa post credible totals. However, for all his progress, he remains in a four-way shoot-out for the all-rounder’s roles in the Proteas ODI team.
Chris Morris: 5/10
51 runs @ 17.00, HS: 28, 50s: 0, 5 wickets @ 41.60, BB: 4/62, Econ: 5.94
The lanky all-rounder probably played his best cricket right at the start of the tour with two superb bowling performances in the T20I and opening ODI in Hamilton. However, Morris remains hugely inconsistent, especially with the ball, and did not do enough to secure a permanent place in the Champions Trophy starting XI.
Andile Phehlukwayo: 7/10
59 runs @ n/a, HS: 29*, 50s: 0, 4 wickets @ 34.25, BB: 2/12, Econ: 5.26
It easy to forget that Phehlukwayo is only 20-years-old, such has been his impact on the Proteas ODI team. A player for the big stage, the Dolphins all-rounder would have learnt a great deal in both victory and defeat on this tour. The high was, of course, taking the Proteas over the line with skipper De Villiers in the series opener before falling just short a couple of days later in Christchurch. Phehlukwayo is also proving to be a crucial asset with the ball as he just has that knack to take wickets when his team needs it most.
Dwaine Pretorius: 7/10
71 runs @ 23.66, HS: 50, SR: 120.33, 5 wickets @ 27.20, BB: 3/5, Econ: 4.34
Pretorius was easily the find of the series for the Proteas, with the Highveld Lions all-rounder enhancing his status in the national team with two brilliant performances in successive matches. In Christchurch, it was with the bat as Pretorius clubbed a 27-ball 50 to take the Proteas to the brink of victory before following it up with the ball (3/15) as the visitors blew away the Black Caps in Wellington. Pretorius has given the selectors plenty to think about with Morne Morkel and possibly Vernon Philander set to return to the ODI squad.
Kagiso Rabada: 9/10
8 wickets @ 17.00, BB: 3/25, Econ: 4.22
A young fast bowler has not had such a huge amount of hype around him in New Zealand for a long time. The attention became even bigger after the 21-year-old signed a mega IPL deal with the Delhi Daredevils midway through the series. But such is Rabada’s maturity that he was not perturbed with all the fan-fare and bulging bank account, and refrained from speaking about the IPL contract to focus solely on helping South Africa clinch their third successive ODI series. Even the ever-growing concerns about his workload could not deter young Rabada and shook the effects of a “sore knee” that forced him to miss one game in the series with stirring performances throughout.
Kagiso Rabada celebrates the wicket of Martin Guptill. Photo: Andrew Cornaga / www.photosport.nz
6 wickets @ 32.66, BB: 2-14, Econ: 4.78
After being destroyed by Tahir’s wiles in the once-off T20, the Kiwis learnt from their mistakes and had a clear plan to nullify the planet’s premier white-ball bowler. They tried to remain patient and not offer him any “free” wickets. However, Tahir’s class was always going to shine through and delivered in the decider at Auckland where he claimed 2/14 to strangle the Black Caps.
Farhaan Behardien – No rating
South Africa’s “reserve batsman” played just one game and was dismissed for a duck in his only opportunity during the series.