Cape Town – Having a left-arm paceman who can swing the ball both ways is what any bowling line-up needs to be the complete package.
The days of Wasim Akram “bending” the ball from outside off to crash into the stumps – or toes – of left-handed and right-handed batsmen alike have seldom been seen since the retirement of the great Pakistani.
In Wayne Dillon Parnell, South Africa have someone who has the potential to be the Proteas’ “Wasim”.
But that potential hasn’t always resulted in success on the field for the hugely talented 27-year-old from Port Elizabeth. Injuries and missed opportunities when playing has seen Parnell play just four Tests, 54 ODIs and 35 T20 internationals since January 2009.
The “new” Parnell, though, has relocated to Cape Town and the Cobras, become a married man and appears to be enjoying his cricket again.
That saw him recalled to the Proteas side for the Australian ODI series last October, but a rib injury sustained while fielding at the Wanderers set him back once more.
It’s been a slow recovery process, but now he’s back and set to return to the Test side for Thursday’s final Test against Sri Lanka in Johannesburg.
Following Kyle Abbott’s exit, there is a third seamer’s spot to play for, and Parnell is a sure bet to back-up Vernon Philander and Kagiso Rabada.
But while the former SA Under-19 captain grabbed the headlines over the last few days for a stunning hundred as an opening batsman in a victorious chase for the Cobras, it is with the red Kookaburra in hand that he will have to state his case.
Many Proteas fans have already expressed their reservations about Parnell on social media, with the usual buzzword of “inconsistent” being the main tag apportioned to the left-armer.
And when you look at his career record, it is hard to get away from such a reputation. In first-class cricket, Parnell has taken 165 wickets in 58 matches, at an average of 31.12, with six five-wicket hauls and one “10-fer”.
In his four Tests, he has seven scalps at 36.85. Not exactly convincing. But of his ability, there is no doubt. Parnell has rediscovered his touch to move the ball back into the right-hander and away, sending it down at over 140km/h.
He took 6/98 in 46.3 overs against the Lions in Oudtshoorn at the weekend, to go with the 103 not out, in his only Sunfoil Series game. His batting can become a valuable commodity at around No 7 or 8 in the order, but that would be a bonus.
Parnell needs to show once and for all that he can do the business with the ball in international cricket, whether it’s opening the bowling or coming on as the first-change.
What a serious win for the @CobrasCricket boys. What a nice way to start as captain, everyone contributing. @WayneParnell thank you! #Hond
— Dane Piedt (@dane_piedt63) January 8, 2017
Perhaps that has been part of the problem in the past – what exactly would his role be? With Philander the epitome of consistency in line and length, and Rabada the ultimate strike bowler, coach Russell Domingo and bowling guru Charl Langeveldt will have to define Parnell’s task in great detail.
Langeveldt is a master strategist in that regard, and would be paying great attention to detail in the Wanderers nets this week.
Abbott was a hard-working seamer who kept the runs down and also claimed crucial wickets, but Parnell’s style of bowling makes him a much more attacking threat.
When play gets under way, it’s all up to Parnell. Now is the time to fulfil that talent…