CHENNAI: The first half of the South African campaign in the World Cup was about their batting might. But now, as we get into the second phase, the Proteas bared their bowling teeth and if you’re an Indian fan, you have the right to be a little jittery.
Kagiso Rabada, their premier paceman didn’t play the game on Friday and the official word from the management was “minor lower back spasm”.But those who follow the team closely said that the team has decided to rotate their three premier pacers – Rabada,Good luck and Marco Jansen – leading up to the business end. But against Pakistan at Chepauk, the South African bowling attack didn’t look in any sort of discomfort without their star spearhead.
While the pacers stuck to their task, it was chinaman Tabraiz Shamsi who was the stand-out. In three decades since their return to international cricket, the only wrist-spinner to have made some sort of impact for South Africa was Paul Adams (also a chinaman bowler). But a South African wrist-spinner troubling Pakistani batsmen on a perfectly playable sub-continental track was like a breath of fresh air.
Shamsi played against Australia and got 2/38, but didn’t play the next three games. Sources close to the team indicated that he is a slightly condition-specific bowler and he will be normally played on tracks with some bounce and a bit of turn. Finger-spinner Keshav Maharaj still remains their No. 1 choice, but on Friday, Shamsi showed that he has the happy knack of taking wickets.
Bowling quite fast through the air, much like Kuldeep Yadav 2.0, Shamsi (4/60) didn’t try to turn the ball too much. While Babar Azam nicked one down the leg trying a sweep, Ifthikar Ahmed didn’t read the one that left him and ended up giving a skier.
Coming back after the 40th over, with the protection of an extra fielder outside the ring, Shamsi got the wicket of Saud Shakeel with a beauty that left him. That gave skipper Temba Bavuma the confidence to give a him a slip and his next scalp – Shaheen Afridi – was a nick to Maharaj at slip.
The only area of concern about Shamsi’s spell was the two no-balls that he bowled and the second free-hit went for a six, something that the South Africans can ill-afford once they go deeper in the tournament.
“If that’s one problem, the other issue about Shamsi is that if someone takes him on early in his spell, there is a chance of him losing his head. That’s why the team management uses him a bit sparingly. But on slightly helpful conditions, he will be definitely a good option,” a source said.
But for now things are looking good and as bowling coach Eric Simons told TOI on Thursday, “the best thing about the South African attack is that they stick to the plan”. Given the batting might of the team, that’s all that they may need to stake a serious claim for the World Cup.
