Detroit Lions Marks out of ten: Player ratings for South Africa’s
In his final series, Elgar found himself captaining once again after Temba Bavuma was injured on the first day of the Centurion Test. A fairytale century, his first in Centurion, followed which ensured the Proteas won by an innings and kept India waiting for their first Test series victory in South Africa. Although he couldn’t complete the story with a series win on a tough pitch in Cape Town, it was a fitting final series for a player who’s been South Africa’s rock for ten years.
Markram’s sole contribution to the series came on its final morning. He was dismissed for five in the first Test and was the first of 23 wickets to fall on the first day at Newlands, but his second innings was an all-timer. On a surface that no other South Africa player was able to score more than 15 in either innings, he played a knock for the ages, scoring 106 runs off 103 balls in a scintillating display of aggression and calculation. He briefly gave South Africa a fleeting chance of turning the match around, but didn’t find enough support with the bat to get the job done.
South Africa’s inexperienced middle-order were given a baptism of fire against India’s impressive seam attack, especially with the surface in Cape Town. Fresh from an impressive ODI series, De Zorzi couldn’t replicate his performances in the Test arena, scoring 28 in the first Test before he was dismissed for two and one in the second.
A 50 on debut kickstarted Beddingham’s Test career. He put on a century stand with Elgar after South Africa lost two quick wickets to stabilise the innings and ensure they racked up a huge lead. He was also the only South Africa batter to make it to double figures in both innings of the second Test.
Petersen only played one innings in the series and was bowled by Jasprit Bumrah for two.
Batting at least a position too high at seven, Jansen made a brilliant unbeaten 84 in the first Test at Centurion, ensuring South Africa posted a score in excess of 400 even after Elgar was out. He was a little wayward with the ball, especially in the first innings, but picked up three wickets in the second. He struggled once more with the ball in the second Test, only picking up the last wicket of the game in Virat Kohli.
Burger was the breakout star of the series for South Africa. He took seven wickets on Test debut including two in as many balls in the second innings. He also made key breakthroughs in India’s first innings in the second Test, dismissing Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill in quick succession to break through the top order. South Africa have found yet another fast bowler for the future in him.
Rabada picked up a Boxing Day five-wicket-haul as the leader of an inexperienced attack before piling on the pressure once again in Cape Town. He completed India’s collapse – the first time a team has ever lost six wickets for no run – by taking two wickets in the final over of their innings. He was the pick of the South Africa bowlers in the series.
Rabada picked up a Boxing Day five-wicket-haul as the leader of an inexperienced attack before piling on the pressure once again in Cape Town. He completed India’s collapse – the first time a team has ever lost six wickets for no run – by taking two wickets in the final over of their innings. He was the pick of the South Africa bowlers in the series.
Coetzee struggled for consistency in the first Test and lacked the potency that has generated so much hype around him in the white-ball format. He was ruled out of the second Test with pelvic inflammation which flared up during the first Test.
It’s a mark of the pitches and how quickly the games progressed that Maharaj didn’t bowl a single ball in the one Test he was deemed necessary for, in Cape Town.
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