CAPE TOWN – The Proteas have arrived in Port Elizabeth to begin their preparation for the third Test at St George’s Park, starting on Thursday.
They will be in a strange space though. It is not the familiar happy feeling of having spent the festive period in Cape Town with friends and family before picking up a routine victory in the New Year Test to boost the morale.
Instead, they face questions aplenty after suffering their first-ever defeat in the marquee Test of the summer since returning from isolation. So, instead of basking in confidence and form, there are issues all round that needs to be rectified over the course of the week if they are to put their noses in-front of what is proving to be a highly-competitive series.
The most contentious issue is, of course, the form – or lack of thereof – of skipper Faf du Plessis. The fact that Du Plessis’ leadership ability is being questioned in some parts is ludicrous. Frankly, the Proteas should regard themselves very fortunate to still be led by one of the country’s finest captains ever, and that list includes Graeme Smith and Hansie Cronje.
But if its statistics that allows Du Plessis to dine at the top of the captain’s table, he will know that his batting numbers over the past 12 months are not equally impressive.
In fact, they are hanging over the Proteas captain like a dark cloud. It is 13 innings without a century and seven since he last passed fifty. For a captain that prides himself on leading by example and knowing that’s its hundreds that win Test matches, this record will not sit well with Du Plessis.
Hello St. George’s Park! Hot and humid conditions out here today, but the boys are in good spirits. Looking forward to the 3rd Test vs England starting on the 16th. 🏏🇿🇦☀️ #ProteaFire #SAvENG pic.twitter.com/jMOJ9dig5d
— Cricket South Africa (@OfficialCSA) January 13, 2020
It’s no coincidence that he always includes himself when speaking about the fact that the Proteas batting unit needs to improve to put the team in a better position. That everything can’t always be left to the bowlers.
Du Plessis will have a stern chat to his bowling unit this week though. His ace left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj has not been his reliable self of late, prompting a discussion around whether new spin consultant Paul Harris is actually assisting or disempowering Maharaj.
But the stronger words will certainly be kept for the seam trio of Kagiso Rabada, Vernon Philander and Anrich Nortje. Cape Cobras seamer Dane Paterson has been retained in the squad for PE, but is unlikely to play outside of injury to the incumbents.
Du Plessis needs his strike bowlers to get into the English batting line-up early. England opener Dom Sibley played with great discipline in the second innings, and kept particularly Philander at bay, which allowed the likes of Ben Stokes to play with freedom later on.
There’s little doubt though that Du Plessis will zone in on Rabada particularly. The Proteas talisman has been looking much better during this season with his pace and energy up from last year, but he now needs that big haul to get the home side buzzing again.
Just like in previous years when the Proteas gained their chutzpah from watching Dale Steyn celebrate a wicket with gusto, this team looks at Rabada to take them forward.
There are only a couple of days before Du Plessis and Joe Root walk out for the coin toss at St George’s, but as we’ve seen before a week is an eternity in Test cricket and the Proteas will hope it’s enough to sort out a few pressing issues.