SA underdogs show bite
THERE is a different atmosphere altogether in world cricket at the moment, following the historic achievements that three teams managed to pull off this past weekend in Australia and India.
Firstly, it was Shamar Joseph’s inspirational journey to Test cricket – one that saw the 24-year-old fast bowler quit his job as a security officer, only to go on to become player of the series in the West Indies’ first victory on Australian soil since 1997.
Then it was the Proteas Women that took over the underdog tag as they defied the odds and registered their first victory over Australia, thanks to an unbeaten half-century from captain Laura Wolvaardt.
To conclude a weekend that saw the underdogs achieve the unthinkable, England defeated India in India in a Test match, a feat most nations struggle to achieve against a team that has not lost a home Test series in a decade.
Somehow, the Proteas “second-string” Test squad, who are in New Zealand, seemed to have had that same energy rub off on them as they started their tour on a positive note.
Right from the moment captain Neil Brand and Edward Moore walked to the middle to open the batting for South Africa in the warm-up match against New Zealand XI, the two lefthanded batters looked the part, and gave no indication that they were on their maiden Test tour.
The pair spent almost an hour together in the middle, and looked as though they had been batting alongside each other all their careers, as they complemented each other’s games perfectly.
Brand played his natural game, leaving well and taking his time in the middle, while Moore stuck to his often aggressive style of play to set a good foundation for the rest of the batters to come in and play with freedom.
With the foundation laid, former SA Under-19 captain Raynard van Tonder hurried to a crucial half-century, one that displayed the top-order batter’s hunger to make the most of the rare opportunity to play Test cricket.
Another former U19 star, Ruan de Swardt, also scored a 50 of his own in his first dig in New Zealand.
Given the positive start to the tour, it all looks promising for Conrad’s squad as they have a big challenge ahead of them, a challenge of protecting a flawless Test record against New Zealand from Saturday onwards.
Proteas Test squad for tour of New Zealand: Neil Brand (capt), Edward Moore, Raynard van Tonder, Zubayr Hamza, Keegan Petersen, David Bedingham, Khaya Zondo, Ruan de Swardt, Clyde Fortuin (wk), Mihlali Mpongwana, Shaun von Berg, Duanne Olivier, Tshepo Moreki, Dane Piedt, Dane Paterson