There’s a lot of opinion around that the Proteas have the best fast bowling attack in World Cricket.
I disagree. While they have some brilliant quicks boasting impressive career figures, once you take them away from home and remove the minnows of Bangladesh and Zimbabwe they’re quickly bought back down to earth. What
- Dale Steyn – Right-arm fast
Career: 27 Tests, 136 Wickets at 22.67
Excluding Minnows, away from home: 9 Tests, 40 Wickets at 27.68 - Makhaya Ntini – Right-arm fast
Career: 93 Tests, 369 at 27.69
Excluding Minnows, away from home: 37 Tests, 119 Wickets at 36.48 - Morne Morkel – Right-arm fast
12 Tests, 40 Wickets at 30.92
Excluding Bangladesh his figures are 8 Tests yielding 19 Wickets at 45.6 - Jacques Kallis – Right-arm fast-medium
Career: 125 Tests, 245 Wickets at 30.92
Excluding Minnows, away from home: 51 Tests, 92 Wickets at 35.86 - Monde Zondeki – Right-arm fast
Career: 6 Tests, 19 Wickets at 25.26
Excluding Minnows, away from home: 4 Tests, 7 Wickets at 47.57
So, 4 right-arm quicks offering no variety and ordinary performances away from home. Their Spearhead, Dale Steyn had been, in my estimation, the best quick in world cricket until he toured England a few months ago. Now he’ll really have to lift his game to match Brett Lee and the rapidly improving Mitchell Johnson.
They’ve left out Andre Nel, and while I’ve not closely followed the Saffa scene I do recall him being omitted from a recent Bangladeshi tour due to his whiteness. Perhaps the stigma associated with his being dropped for Charl Langaveldt then is still around? Either way, they’re a weaker side without his aggression and passion, and he’ll be sorely missed by the Aussie crowds in need of a villain.
Compare this to the variety offered by the Aussie pace attack:
- Brett Lee ; right-arm fast
- Mitchell Johnson ; left-arm fast
- Stuart Clark ; right-arm McGrath
- Shane Watson ; right-arm male model
Here’s to a cracking series, and to no Perth Based Saffa ex-pats yelling racist remarks and tarnishing Australian crowds with their brush.
