Proteas’ incredible red-ball strength gives Shukri Conrad options aplenty

Spin bowlers, top-order batters, all-rounders, wicketkeeper batters, fast bowlers of every kind… Suddenly head coach Shukri Conrad has options aplenty when assembling his Test side.

South Africa’s two-match Test series against Zimbabwe has given several fringe players – and those who have been knocking on the door – an opportunity to test their mettle at the highest level.

During the two weeks of action in Bulawayo, Conrad has handed five players their first Test match caps: Dewald Brevis, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Codi Yusuf, Lesego Senokwane and Prenelan Subrayen. Corbin Bosch, Kwena Maphaka and Matthew Breetzke also featured, collecting their second Test caps. All three had their first taste of Test cricket during the past season.

The time spent in Zimbabwe was a test of the country’s red-ball depth, and it’s one that’s been passed with flying colours.

The aforementioned group of players are added to a playing team of 11 who recently clinched the World Test Championship final against Australia, so breaking into the best available team won’t be easy. But it does provide Conrad with players that he can best assemble depending on the conditions.

South Africa tour India in November for a two-match Test series – their next Test series after Zimbabwe – and will probably change up the side to suit the conditions on the subcontinent.

It will not be surprising if Conrad opts for three spin bowlers in Kolkata and Guwahati. And in Zimbabwe, the three spinners most likely to be on the flight to India were Keshav Maharaj, Senuran Muthusamy and Subrayen.

Maharaj sat out the second Test against Zimbabwe after suffering a groin injury. Subrayen, whose performance was more an audition than the two more recognised tweakers, collected four Zimbabwean scalps in his first innings of bowling in Test cricket.

Conrad has gone the opposite direction in the past too, having dropped first-choice spinner Maharaj in place of all-rounder Bosch on the more pace-friendly highveld wicket when the Proteas took on Pakistan at Centurion in December last year – with no recognised spinner selected.

Being backed

Pace-bowling all-rounder Wiaan Mulder holding the number three position in the batting line-up has given the side the freedom to select the combination of bowlers of their choosing, with Mulder providing a genuine seam-bowling option to balance the side out.

But that would only be possible if Mulder performs his role with the bat in the top three to any degree of success. So far, his coach could not have asked for more from him.

Despite the changes Conrad has made in the side over the past few matches, transparency and understanding of their roles have ensured that the players feel backed by the coaching staff.

Since Conrad took over as head coach, Mulder has scored 881 runs at an average of 80 in 10 matches. This includes his maiden Test half-century as well as three centuries.

Before that, in the 11 matches he had played at that point in his career, Mulder had scored 272 runs at an average of 14.3.

Not only has the squad depth improved, but the first-choice players, exemplified by Mulder, have become better too. The reason? The backing they have felt from the coach.

“It’s a lot,” Mulder said about the role Conrad has played in making him feel like he belongs at the highest level. “Shuks has backed me for many years, from academy days… It’s freed me up a bit to go and play and not worry too much about surviving and making every run count, [and] being able to express myself and play with freedom.

“It’s played a massive role and the important thing is I deserve a position in the team. I contribute positively with the bat and ball and catching in the slips, so overall my role brings a lot of balance to the team.

“All those things contribute to freeing me up and playing to the best of my ability.”

Stepping up

The quality of depth being built ensures that there is no big drop-off after the eventual retirements of the core players in the Test side, and also that regulars don’t rest on their laurels.

Kyle Verreynne, who hit the winning runs at the World Test Championship, will have one eye over his shoulder after the impressive batting performances of Pretorius. As expected, Verreynne retained the gloves against Zimbabwe while 19-year-old keeper-batter Pretorius was used primarily as a middle-order batter.

The clean-hitting southpaw grabbed his first opportunities in senior national colours as well as he could have, attaining scores of 153, four and 78 in his three chances at the crease. That’s as good an introduction to red-ball cricket as could be asked for.

His domestic teammate, Brevis, showed glimpses of his potential at international level with a half-century on debut, scoring 51, followed by scores of three and 30. He has not yet knocked at the door as hard as Pretorius, but he remains an option for the future.

Fast bowler Yusuf bowled with extreme control and brilliant movement, particularly with the new ball, to provide more options in South Africa’s long line of Test-ready fast bowlers. Yusuf picked up six wickets and only conceded 64 runs in the first Test, picking off one opening batter in each innings.

The 27-year-old offers something different from South Africa’s other options. Although he has the ability to crank it up to about 140km/h, his strength is in his Vernon Philander-esque ability to hit the same area ball after ball.

On green, seaming decks where the extra pace of the likes of Gerald Coetzee, Nandre Burger or Anrich Nortje – who have all struggled with injuries in recent times – would not be as handy as the accuracy and movement of Yusuf, he could be more than useful for Conrad in the future.

The Proteas under Conrad are building a team that is capable of challenging any side in any conditions. DM

This story first appeared in our weekly Daily Maverick 168 newspaper, which is available countrywide for R35.