Between brilliant and awful — the Proteas’ seesawing month of white ball cricket

The Proteas have been a combination of brilliant and awful during the past month. South Africa secured their first one-day international series win over Australia in that country in seven years and, more impressively, their first ODI series win away against England in 31 years – both 2-1 victories.

But in the dead-rubber final matches they suffered their two largest defeats, by number of runs, since their first match in the format in 1991.

The 342-run loss to England is the largest margin of defeat, by runs, yet in ODI cricket. Just two weeks earlier, the Proteas suffered a 276-run loss to Australia, also in a dead-rubber third match, which was the seventh worst defeat in the history of the format.

In rugby terms, it’s like reliving the 57-0 defeat inflicted by New Zealand on the Springboks in 2017 and then the Boks beating them the next week.

It’s a bit confusing to fully grasp how to feel about the results.

Newly appointed Proteas white-ball coach Shukri Conrad described the latest ODI loss to England as “slightly embarrassing”.

It’s difficult to be fully embarrassed given the roaring performances the team displayed in their two prior outings – a demolishing seven-wicket win and a nail-biting five-run win – but some degree of shame seems appropriate.

No senior bowlers

South Africa were without premier fast bowler Kagiso Rabada throughout both ODI series. The resurgent Lungi Ngidi has led the attack with aplomb in his absence. But once both series were wrapped up by the first two matches, Conrad opted to rest Ngidi as well.

With no real senior fast bowlers in the ranks, South Africa’s depth was tested, conceding 431 (for four) to Australia first and then 414 (for five) to England.

South Africa have only conceded more than those two totals once before in their history – in the iconic 438 match at the Wanderers in 2006, when they chased down Australia’s then record score of 434 (for four).

Energetic Kwena Maphaka (19) – playing only his third ODI – was thrown into the international cauldron in Mackay in the third and final ODI against Australia.

He conceded 73 runs in six overs and his new-ball partner Wiaan Mulder – who is usually the fourth seamer in the line-up – conceded 93 runs in seven overs as the Aussie top order put them to the sword.

In the bashing against England, debutant Codi Yusuf was chucked into the hot pot, conceding 80 runs in his 10-over allotment – the most expensive spell by a South African on ODI debut.

Left-arm quick Nandre Burger, who is also in the infancy of his international career, conceded 95 runs in the 10 overs he bowled – one run short of the most expensive spell by a South African in ODI history.

According to Conrad, both Ngidi and Rabada could have played in the loss to England at a push, but with the 50-over World Cup more than two years away and the T20 showpiece a few months away, he went with a more pragmatic line-up.

“The T20s are the priority for us,” he explained.

Young middle order

South Africa’s batters didn’t respond in the same way they did in the famous 438 match, instead being bowled out for 155 and 72.

The Proteas’ middle order is one of the most talented in the world, but they’re all extremely green.

The four-five-six combination of Matthew Breetzke (26), Tristan Stubbs (25) and Dewald Brevis (22) could be the batting axis of the ODI side for the next decade.

They sporadically displayed their talent on the international stage, but each was torn apart by inspired fast bowling from England duo Brydon Carse and Jofra Archer. The Southampton pitch somehow found some life for the bowlers after more than 400 first-innings runs were scored.

Breetzke has had the best start to date to an ODI career. After five innings, no batter in history has scored more than the 463 he racked up along with five scores of 50 or more in that time.

Not only has his scoring been outstanding, but the way he’s accumulated his runs has been impressive too. He looked completely at home at the top level, playing extremely stylishly as well, often finishing his lofted drives with his back leg raised.

In six matches, Brevis has not lit up the ODI format the way he has T20Is, but the potential is clear for anyone to see. Like Breetzke, Brevis has shown no fear in stepping up to the international stage. His strike rate is nearly touching on 160 in the format and he has already struck 11 sixes in the six ODI innings he has played – all this without having reached a maiden half-century in the format yet.

Stubbs has been in the international circuit for longer than the aforementioned duo and has every shot in the book. At the moment, though, he’s struggling with consistency. His scores in the ODI series against Australia and England read 0, 74, 1, 0, 58, 10. When he’s played himself in, he’s made it count. His problem has been staying at the crease long enough to settle in.

A glimpse of the future was on display in South Africa’s second ODI, a five-run win over England, in which Breetzke (85 off 77) and Stubbs (58 off 62) shared a 147-run partnership to guide the Proteas to 330 for eight.

The potential in the talented young middle order is vitally important for Conrad and the Proteas, especially with the shock retirement of dynamic middle-order basher Heinrich Klaasen earlier this year.

Stalwarts such as 36-year-olds David Miller and Rassie van der Dussen also appear to be on their way out of the format, with Conrad opting not to select the pair in recent 50-over squads.

That their replacements have, so far, put their hands up for regular selection bodes well, and the series results prove as much.

Consistency from the young and inexperienced group is the next step for the side to reach a world-class level. DM

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