Alviro Petersen needs to endorse the selectors’ faith in him if his Test career is to last longer than this summer.
Petersen last made a century 23 innings ago at Newlands in January last year, and has gone past 50 on just three other occasions since. However, national coach Russell Domingo is backing the embattled opener to end his run of poor scores against the West Indies, and hopes this will occur in the first Test in Centurion starting on Wednesday.
“He doesn’t need too much motivation, there are a lot of questions about him and his selection, but to me he’s been a good performer for South Africa,” said Domingo.
The 34-year-old Petersen has played 33 Tests and has faced scrutiny about his spot in the side for much of his international career.
“He’s a guy who thrives when he’s got a point to prove. All players go through slumps and hopefully he’s got a big score around the corner.”
Domingo pointed to the number of “starts” Petersen had made, having seemingly established himself at the crease.
The numbers reflect poorly on Petersen’s ability to turn good starts into an innings of substance. On eight occasions since his last Test century he’s got past 20, but thrown his wicket away seemingly when well set.
“He knows as a top-order batter he’s got to score big runs and he’ll be the first to admit he has maybe thrown away starts and not cashed in,” said Domingo.
In a South African side that haven't played a lot of Test matches this year – their last was in August against Zimbabwe – and with a new captain and some rookie players in the starting line-up, Petersen’s failures are magnified.
He, along with other experienced heads like Hashim Amla, AB de Villiers and Dale Steyn, carry an enormous load.
One senior player in JP Duminy has already been ruled out of the first Test, and Domingo said yesterday it appeared he’d miss the second Test in Port Elizabeth as well because of a recurring knee injury. With the second and third Tests so close to each other, and the national side’s medical staff extra cautious with Duminy, given his importance to the one-day side in a season that culminates in a World Cup, it would be no surprise were the left-hand batsman to sit out the entire series.
Another elegant left hander, Stiaan van Zyl, is set to take Duminy’s place, but as good as he’s been this only adds to the tension Domingo says he’s feeling in the lead-up to a series many believe South Africa will dominate.
“I’m a little nervous starting this Test series because we haven’t played a lot of Test cricket.
“We’re still trying to find the right combinations and right personnel since we lost guys like (Graeme) Smith and (Jacques) Kallis. We are also nervous about the West Indies side because we don’t know much about them.”
Domingo said a decision whether to play three seamers and spinner Robin Peterson or to go into the match with an all-pace attack would be made once the pitch had been viewed.
“You’ve got to back your ability to build pressure over a sustained period,” said Domingo.
“If you generally do that then hopefully against a side like the West Indies you’ll create opportunities with bat and ball to assert yourself.
“Analysis is important, but we know we don’t have to go too far out of our strategies and game plan.
“Whether you’re playing Australia or the West Indies, you’ve got to try to apply as much pressure as possible.”