Johannesburg: It may be the ugly cousin in comparison with the razzmatazz of T20 or – especially in a World Cup season – the colour and glamour of one-day cricket, but the four-day competition, that starts tomorrow, provides a crucial foundation for South African cricket, in particular the No1 ranked Test side.
In recent years, the performances of Dean Elgar, Vernon Philander and Dane Piedt in the Sunfoil Series has seen them elevated into the Test team underlining the high standard of the competition.
“Not to belittle any of the other competitions, but you can never neglect four-day cricket because that is the foundation that develops players, refines their talent and helps them come through,” said former Proteas captain Kepler Wessels.
“South Africa has been blessed in the last 10 years, that a world class group of players matured at the same time, but the Sunfoil Series remains important in that it’s where players are produced for the Test team.”
Elgar, who this season will play for the Titans, produced some heavy scoring for his previous franchise, the Knights, which saw him called up to the Test squad in 2012. And while he struggled initially – making a pair on debut in Perth – the mental toughness needed to thrive in the domestic competition, has seen him establish himself in the national team.
Philander’s success internationally while unique, also underscores the value of refining one’s craft domestically. Initially selected for South Africa in 2007, Philander looked out of his depth, but four years later, having plied his trade for the Cape Cobras, picking up 99 wickets across three seasons from 2008-2011, Philander found himself in the Test team and devastated the Australians at Newlands.
Barring injuries, Wessels doesn’t see too many new faces breaking into the Test side this summer. “There are only three Tests, and the emphasis is very much on the one-day team ahead of the World Cup, so I can’t foresee (the selectors) tinkering too much.”
Alviro Petersen’s poor run at the top of the order – just one half-century in his last 10 innings – may see his spot under scrutiny, and if that inspires some top order players in the Sunfoil Series, then that’s a positive outcome says Wessels. “It would be good of course, but the priority isn’t the Test team. With due respect to them the West Indies, they aren’t the strongest Test team, so the selectors won’t want to mess around too much at the top of the order,” he said.
“Next season with (a tour to) India and then England (who tour here) is different and if they make a change then it may be then only. For now, they’ll want Elgar and Petersen, who are still a new combination, to establish themselves at the top of the order.”
However, there are still targets for domestic players to chase in the Test side, but they involve mainly providing back-up and adding depth in the bowling department.
“I’m certainly keen on seeing what new fast bowlers may emerge. Right now Kyle Abbott and Marchant de Lange are probably the back-up bowlers, but there’s still a chance for a good, young fast bowler to put his hand up,” said Wessels.
“It’s the same with the spinners, Dane Piedt has grabbed his chance, but we’ve seen Simon Harmer around the squad, too, so hopefully he continues to make progress.”
Harmer’s ears may have pricked up at reports out of India that Piedt injured his bowling arm playing for the Cobras in the Champions League T20 and could be out for a while.
Overall, there is plenty – besides only the prestige of being four-day champions – to play for, something to which Highveld Lions coach, Geoffrey Toyana, can attest.
“Guys like Graeme Smith and Jacques Kallis retiring means everyone knows there are positions up for grabs. Quinton de Kock, is a big motivation for us here at the Lions; three years ago he was playing SA Under-19 now he’s in the Test side,” said Toyana. - Cape Times