SA v Eng 4th Test Preview: New names aim to make a mark in the dead rubber

Stephen Cook has moved a step closer to making his Test debut against England in Centurion after Rilee Rossouw was released from South Africa’s squad to play for his franchise, Knights, in the fifth round of the Sunfoil series which starts on Thursday. From the visiting side, left-arm fast bowler Mark Footitt will be eager to earn a Test cap in the absence of the injured Steven Finn. With the result of the series already decided, it is the right time for both teams to try new combinations.

South Africa:

The home side was outgunned by Stuart Broad and company on an eventful evening in Wanderers that may have them understandably shell-shocked. A much-deserved break must have done the team no harm. It will be in the team’s best interest to just consider this phase as a learning curve and strive for improvement rather than considering it a massive beating. Any team can go through such a phase and how positive the dressing room stays, holds the key to revival.

Stiaan van Zyl was let go from the squad after his struggles during the first three Tests where he had a top score of 33 in five innings. The one remaining stumbling block for Cook, a specialist opener who topped the first-class runs charts last season and has scored two centuries and a fifty from three games this summer, would be if South Africa deploys wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock in the opening berth in order to make room for JP Duminy in the middle order.

The desire to include Duminy in the middle-order is two-fold. Not only does he offer a part-time off-spin but he is coming off the back of a career-best unbeaten 260 for Cape Cobras, scored the match after he was dropped from the Test XI in Cape Town. Whichever way South Africa goes, Elgar will have a new opening partner and is well aware of the qualities Cook would bring.

Hardus Viljoen, the fast bowler who made his debut at the Wanderers and struck with his first ball in Test cricket when he had Alastair Cook caught down the leg side, has also been released from the squad. With Dale Steyn being ruled out due to a shoulder injury, it now appears likely that the decision over the bowling combination is two from Chris Morris, Kyle Abbott and off-spinner Dane Piedt.

England:

England’s net session in Centurion witnessed Mark Footitt bowling with pace and skill to made life difficult for all the batsmen. Jonny Bairstow, arguably England’s man of the series, was twice drawn into edges, while James Taylor was beaten comprehensively. The rest of the bowlers were unable to match his hostility.

With Finn unavailable due to injury, Footitt is rivalling Chris Jordan and Chris Woakes for a call-up. He must fear that the Test in Pretoria might offer a last chance for him especially since he just had his 30th birthday. Chances of a Test debut do not come along all that often after going past that age especially in a set-up as settled as that of England. Since the start of the 2014 season, he has claimed 162 first-class wickets at an average of 21.46 and proved that he is a fine bowler.

To defeat the No. 1-ranked side in the world on their own pitches is a fine achievement. South Africa are in transition and they have missed Dale Steyn for much of the series but their team still contains some fine players and history proved how difficult it is to win in their country. The England team is not a finished article, but it has demonstrated tremendous improvement and deserves a great deal of credit. The visitors will look the basics right and make the series win even more memorable.

Probable XI-

England:

Alastair Cook (C), Alex Hales, Nick Compton, Joe Root, James Taylor, Ben Stokes, Jonny Bairstow (Wk), Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Stuart Broad, Mark Footitt.

South Africa:

Stephen Cook, Dean Elgar, Hashim Amla, AB de Villiers (C), Faf du Plessis, Temba Bavuma, Quinton de Kock (Wk), Kyle Abbott, Kagiso Rabada, Morne Morkel, Dane Piedt.

Stats:

1. While the likes of Ben Stokes and Joe Root have been in news for their batting, it is Jonny Bairstow who holds the highest average amongst batsmen from both sides. His 345 runs have come at an average of 115.00.

2. Only Morne Morkel has registered double digits in terms of the number of wickets for the home side. His 10 wickets have come at an average of 33.70.