08 January 2019, by: Quintin van Jaarsveld

Proteas player ratings: Fresh faces boost hope

The Proteas fought valiantly but, in the end, England had a little more in the tank to win the Newlands thriller on the fifth and final day on Tuesday.

The series is now squared at 1-1 after South Africa started the new era on a perfect note with a 107-run win in the Boxing Day Test at Centurion.

England’s counterpunch, a 189-run triumph, is rather flattering on the scorecard. In the context of the cracking contest, the courageous Proteas fell 50 balls short of salvaging a draw, with a late flurry of wickets earning England a well-deserved victory.

The result is disappointing, but it’s clear the Proteas under the guidance of Graeme Smith and Mark Boucher have rediscovered their fighting spirit. Opportunities were wasted in key moments, but at the halfway mark of the Test series, the positives outweigh the negatives, particularly, the unearthing of two new stars in Pieter Malan and Anrich Nortje.

Quintin van Jaarsveld rates the players for their performances in BOTH Tests.

The bankable opener was a bust in the opening Test, falling victim to a golden duck before departing for 22 after looking to play more aggressively. He bounced back well in Cape Town, top-scoring in the first innings with 88 (180) in typically tenacious fashion before being controversially sent on his way for 34. As the senior opener and with his reputation as the Proteas’ great grafter, Elgar is held to a higher standard and, therefore, throwing his wicket away with a ton within reach tainted his innings somewhat.

Flattered to deceive in Centurion, where he scored just 22 runs in his two innings after he’d started so impressively. Things went from bad to worse for as he fractured a finger during training, ruling him out for the rest of the series. 2020 will be an important year for him, as he’ll want to prove a point and realise his prodigious potential upon his return.

Replacing the injured Markram, Malan showed top-class technique, temperament and tenacity in his debut Test at Newlands. Falling for just five first up, the 30-year-old showed excellent mental strength to put that disappointment aside and deal with the added pressure in the second. Rock-solid, courageous and resilient, he gave the Proteas hope when all seemed lost and almost orchestrated a great escape. Batted for 369 minutes and faced 288 before finally being undone for 84 by Sam Curran with the new ball after lunch on Tuesday. Hailed as “the future” by Nasser Hussain.

It’s been a real tough go for Hamza. He’s lacked the composure and concentration of a Malan, which has hamstrung the early stages of his international career. His series-opening 39 was a perfect example of this as he botched a promising knock with a bad shot. He managed just 27 runs in his three other innings, leaving some to question his aptitude for Test cricket.

Like Elgar, more is expected from Du Plessis, not only as captain but as the team’s top batsman in recent times as well. We haven’t seen an ironman innings he’s renowned for, which was especially needed to save the Newlands Test. His shot selection has been poor and has contributed to his low returns of 29, 20, 1 and 19. Tuesday’s thoughtless shot was especially criminal. His captaincy was good in the first Test, but delaying taking the new ball to try to bog down Ben Stokes with Keshav Maharaj and Dwaine Pretorius in England’s second innings in Cape Town backfired spectacularly.

He’s been a class act in his maiden Test series. Scored his first half-century (51) in his second innings at Centurion and built on that momentum in Cape Town. First came a 68 before he dug in like a seasoned veteran as he gallantly tried to salvage a draw. For over three long, tense hours on Tuesday, he was an impregnable wall, brilliantly blunt and perfectly patient. When Stuart Broad finally broke him, he had occupied the crease for 190 minutes and faced 140 balls for his 17.

He was always going to be a key player in the series and he made a massive impact right off the bat. While he missed out on a century, his unrivalled 95 after coming in with the hosts on the ropes at 97/4 turned the tables, ultimately won the game for the Proteas and earned him the Man of the Match award. Played within himself so well for so long with the match hanging in the balance on Tuesday, scoring his 19th and slowest Test half-century, but again played a poor shot to give away his wicket. Also became only the second South African wicketkeeper to take five (or more) catches in a Test innings at Newlands.

A bit of an unsung hero in the series-opening win; he was extremely economical (2.87 and 1.62) while asking questions and took a wicket in each innings. Started with a valuable 33 with the willow as well. Grew in confidence in Cape Town, taking 2/26 first up and another in the second. Crucially, he faltered in the batting department, scoring just four and negotiating only 21 balls during the tense conclusion.

Produced a near-flawless performance in the first Test. In vintage form, the veteran reminded why one of his nicknames is “The Surgeon”, hitting the perfect line and length with cyborg-like consistency to claim 4-16 in the first innings. Was a key contributor with the bat too, scoring 35 and 46, the near-half-century only topped by De Kock. Accurate and economical in his Newlands swansong but only took just two wickets. Continued his solid batting with an unbeaten 17, and lasted 51 balls at the death.

Had a satisfactory first Test. Wasn’t required to do too much, bowling a total of just 20 overs and picking up two wickets. Did a decent-enough holding job (2.51 economy rate) in the first innings at Newlands, returning figures of 1/68 and come the second, he delivered an early contender for ball of the series when he bowled opener Joe Denly for 38. Then Ben Stokes arrived and bludgeoned him to all corners of the ground to take the game away from the Proteas and condemn the spinner to nightmare figures of 2/160 and a 3/10 rating.

As the leader of a bowling attack, it’s vital to set the tone not only in terms of taking wickets but attitude as well. Rabada’s done that well despite not being at his best. The Proteas’ top and most consistent wicket-taker, he took seven in the first Test and five in the second. The young man’s passion erupted on day three at Newlands when he let out a primal roar after claiming Zak Crawley’s scalp for four to give his team the ideal start to the second stanza of the match.

What a revelation he’s been! If his excellent early form is any indication, the Proteas have found their new enforcer. Often, especially in the modern era, cricket is overcomplicated. Nortje has kicked down the door and reminded everyone that good old-fashion fast bowling is as effective now as it’s ever been. Not to say he doesn’t have the skill, he does, but his 140-150km/h canon sets him apart as an impact player and has earned him 10 wickets. He was also outstanding as a nightwatchman in the second innings at Centurion, where he spent over two hours at the crease for a well-played 40, which included six boundaries.

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