South African Batsmen Struggle in 4-Day Matches as Boxing Day Challenge Looms

As South Africa’s first meeting against England on Boxing Day in Durban edges ever closer, concern is looming ever larger. A contingent of Proteas batsmen were in action in South Africa’s four-day competition across the country in a bid to find some form after the battering they took in India. That has not materialised.

Unless South Africa are trying to play some sort of psychological game in which their batsmen look deliberately out of sorts to lull England into a false sense of security, a tough task awaits them in the first Test. Six of South Africa’s Test players were in action in the first round of domestic fixtures, and just one, Temba Bavuma, managed a half-century.

Here’s an overview of who did what and what they need to do to click before the first Test against England.

Stiaan van Zyl

Scores: 15 (25) and 21 (21)

Getting a start and failing to build from it seems to have become the most predictable part of Stiaan van Zyl’s career as an opener. His domestic side, the Cape Cobras, were beaten by an innings on their home ground to the Knights.

Both of Van Zyl’s dismissals—bowled and caught in the gully—were emblematic of a player who is clearly frustrated. There is nothing wrong with him technically, but he just persistently plays silly shots for no apparent reason.

Hashim Amla

Scores: 10 (45) and 23 (21)

The form of South Africa’s Test skipper, Hashim Amla, is perhaps the most concerning. In 18 innings across all formats, he has gone past the 50-run mark just once. This is almost unfathomable for a player who has always seemed to be able to score runs without even trying.

Like Van Zyl, Amla was his own worst enemy. The Newlands pitch did offer some assistance to the seamers, but these are the kinds of conditions South Africa’s players have grown up with. If this is how they respond to domestic bowlers, what kind of reaction will there be to the likes of James Anderson and Stuart Broad?

JP Duminy

Scores: 35 (84) and 27 (40)

JP Duminy managed something the previous two players did not: time at the crease. Although he doesn’t have many runs to show for it, Duminy at least managed to nudge his way around for the Cobras for a few hours.

He’s still got a long way to go—and both his dismissals could have been avoided—but if Duminy can build from this, there might be some hope for South Africa’s middle order.

Dane Piedt

Wickets: Four for 121

Because the Cobras were beaten by an innings, Dane Piedt managed to bowl in just one over. Encouragingly, he bowled more overs than any of the other bowlers in his side, and he managed to nab four wickets on a track that didn't offer the spinners much. That has always been one of Piedt's greatest strengths—being able to make something out of nothing.

His figures aren’t going to blow anyone away, but if he does play in Durban, the track should offer a bit more than Newlands did.

Dean Elgar

Scores: 0 (5) and 12 (26)

Before the tour of India, Dean Elgar looked like a good choice for South Africa's opener, but that perception has probably shifted somewhat after a torrid time in the subcontinent and a poor outing in the domestic competition. But all hope might not be lost for the opening berth. While South Africa’s opening pair failed in their domestic matches, another opener, Stephen Cook, notched up a half-century in England’s tour match.

With Elgar and Van Zyl both struggling for form, Cook must surely be on the selector’s radar. They have previously stated he is a bit on the old side and not conducive to building a team for the future, but if Elgar’s poor run of form continues, there might not be another choice.

Temba Bavuma

Scores: 57 (114) and 2 (14)

When judging purely by scores, Temba Bavuma was by far the most successful South Africa Test player to take part in domestic cricket over the weekend. However, like his teammates, Bavama was guilty of an unnecessary dismissal in the second innings.

Still, he’s a budding young Test player and almost certainly has a long Test career ahead of him. If he can learn from his mistakes, like he constantly seems to do, Bavuma could very well become one of South Africa’s leading players on this tour.

All information obtained firsthand unless otherwise stated.