Kruger van Wyk and Paul Harris say that Heino Kuhn will be among the runs for the Proteas at The Oval.
Kuhn has struggled for form since making his debut against England in the first Test at Lord’s, returning three single-figure scores. Despite this, however, Van Wyk, who represented the Black Caps in nine Tests after making the move to New Zealand from Centurion, says the role Kuhn played to see the shine off the new ball in the first innings at Trent Bridge cannot be understated.
Although he did not kick on to score a fifty, Van Wyk says Kuhn’s 87-ball 34 made the lives easier of the batsmen to follow as South Africa posted 335.
‘He [Kuhn] was opening the innings against two world-class fast bowlers and that partnership with Amla at Trent Bridge [of 48 for the second wicket] was vital, because when Anderson and Broad get a sniff they can run through sides,’ Van Wyk told the Titans website.
Should Kuhn rediscover the form which saw him score 200*, 105 and 80 for South Africa A prior to the England Test series, a maiden Test century is not beyond the realms of possibility. Harris believes that The Oval, which has historically been known as a batsman’s paradise, may provide Kuhn with the ideal opportunity to achieve this.
‘I do think when the third Test starts at the Oval on Thursday, Heino will have a perfect opportunity to amass a century, because it is a wicket conducive to good batting,’ commented Harris.
‘My message to Heino is to go get a big one.’
The third Test gets under way on Thursday, with the series locked at 1-1.
