We rate the South African XI out of 10 – after Tuesday’s drawn second Test with the West Indies at St George’s Park in Port Elizabeth.
Alviro Petersen: Quinton de Kock’s injury and a relatively new-look middle order will keep Petersen at the top of the knock for the foreseeable future, but consistently getting out to shoddy shot selection continues to test the patience of all an sundry. Rating: 3/10
Dean Elgar: The most defining of Elgar’s three Test centuries has cemented his spot as South Africa’s first genuine Test opener post-Graeme Smith. Hard graft rather than natural talent, too, should take him even further. Rating: 8/10
Faf du Plessis: Du Plessis had plenty to correct after a dour duck in the first Test – and duly obliged with a fine century. Jury remains out on whether he actually edged the ball to get out on 103. The DRS, indeed, remains an imperfect solution. Rating: 8/10
Hashim Amla: Declared when the time was right, rather than unnecessarily extend the first-innings – and probably would have done the same in the second had the weather allowed. Quickly proving a less conservative skipper than Smith. Rating: 7/10
AB de Villiers: Particularly troubled by Jerome Taylor and unable to stay out in the middle to guide Temba Bavuma or Stiaan van Zyl. Charactheristically solid behind the stumps in the absence of De Kock. Rating: 6/10
Stiaan van Zyl: The young left-hander will know Test cricket isn’t going to serve up a century everytime. That zealous, aggressive intent remains, though. Suddenly not the new kid on the block, with Bavuma’s arrival. Rating: 6/10
Temba Bavuma: An historical selection, albiet a relatively unssuccesful one out in the middle, Bavuma will have plenty more to offer – and will stay ahead of Rilee Rossouw in the pecking order for now. Rating: 5/10
Vernon Philander: The substantial stand between Kraigg Brathwaite and Marlon Samuels needed breaking – and Vernon Philander belatedly delivered on cue amid an otherwise quiet match for the all-rounder. His home, hunting ground awaits at Newlands. Rating: 6/10
Dale Steyn: There is no keeping Steyn out of the game. Hasn’t surpassed Makhaya Ntini has South Africa’s second-highest Test wicket-taker yet, but now sports the joint fourth-fastest half-century in the history of the longest format of the international game. Rating: 6/10
Morne Morkel: Like all good support acts should, Morkel stepped up when the spearheads were ineffective and spent. Should take the new ball ahead of Philander at Newlands. Rating: 8/10
Imran Tahir: Conditions demanded South Africa play a specialist spinner well enough in Port Elizabeth – and Tahir fared well enough. But Dane Piedt’s return to cricket and Simon Harmer’s addition to the Test squad are ominous signs for the animated leg-spinner. Rating: 7/10
Jonhenry Wilson
