Blackcaps In Africa: Second Test Demolition (Immediate Thoughts)
Wag-nut!
There are two ways to look at the Blackcaps big ol' loss to South Africa in the 2nd/only Test of their South African tour on the day after such a demolition. The first revolves around sympathy, sympathy for our Blackcaps batsmen who had to face the full wrath of a South African bowling attack who thoroughly enjoyed lovely conditions for hostile seam/swing bowling; Dale Steyn and Veron Philander got rowdy in their comeback party at the expense of our Blackcaps.
On the other hand, sympathy is absent as both the bowlers and batsmen from Aotearoa simply struggled to match the skill of South Africa. This is part of the reality check that has been handed down to our Blackcaps Test team in recent times and against quality opposition like Australia and South Africa, the kiwis have come off second-best and have clearly looked to be playing a few levels below their opposition.
While casual cricket fans love the work of the Blackcaps in coloured clothing, lapping up exciting ODI performances and a strong showing in India at the World T20 tournament, it's Test cricket that counts. Test cricket is all I care about, it's what this Blackcaps team will be judged on as we've only got to look at the success of West Indies in limited overs cricket as an example of how fickle ... or how much easier it is to enjoy success in coloured clothing compared to Test cricket. What we have seen in South Africa - on the back of being touched up by Australia - is that our Test team still has a long way to go and that's all good when you've got a young team that has laid the foundation but has so much improvement in them.
As fans, we've simply got to ride this rollercoaster with the Blackcaps. They are skillful, exciting and ooze potential, however this loss to South Africa only reminded me that they simply haven't played enough Test cricket to reach great heights just yet.
Take Martin Guptill for example. Any kiwi cricket fan can see, or knows that Guptill does not have a long-term future as the Blackcaps Test opener. Guptill is a good at hitting the white ball, just like the Blackcaps are a good limited overs team, however Guptill simply isn't technically good enough to handle quality Test bowling. We all know that Guptill probably won't be opening for the Blackcaps in a year or two's time, so we need to patient because this Blackcaps Test team obviously isn't a finished article just yet.
Be patient as someone like Jeet Raval acquaints himself with Test cricket, be patient while guys like Tom Latham, Henry Nicholls and Mitchell Santner settle into the mental and physical grind of Test cricket. Having a young team is great and exciting, yet we've gotta be patient for success.
All the Blackcaps batsmen fell victim to a rampant South African bowling attack that bowled better than the kiwis. Steyn and Philander were returning to the Test arena and showed what made them such lethal bowlers before their injury lay-offs as Steyn moved the ball at pace and Philander reminded us all that he's the lad in Test cricket right now who best resemebles Glenn McGrath. The difference between the two bowling attacks for me was the patience and execution of skill from Steyn and Philander (shout out Kagiso Rabada - you're a gun quick bowler as well bro), as they put their experience on display in consistently hitting good line and lengths.
The South African batsmen were gifted opportunities to score, releasing the pressure far too frequently with the kiwi bowlers drifting on to the pads or over-pitching with frustrating regularity. That's why Steyn and Philander led South Africa along (with Morne Morkel) to the No.1 spot in the world and why the Blackcaps still have a long way to go.
Trent Boult, Tim Southee and Doug Bracewell got wickets because there was swing and seam available to them. They were unable to deliver six balls in the same spot, patiently hitting a channel outside off until the batsman was lured in. The kiwi bowlers hit this channel for a few balls and instead of making the batsmen come to them, the kiwi bowlers drifted too straight for example and were picked off.
Let's keep it real here; Steyn/Philander vs Southee/Boult ... who are you taking?
Steyn/Philander every day of the week. Hence South Africa won.
Neil Wagner was a shining light, taking 5/86 and 1/18. It's probably no coincidence that Wagner is successful and that he steams in, hits the deck hard as well as swinging the ball. We shouldn't sleep on that either, as Wagner genuinely moved the ball around and showed that there are more strings to his bow than being an enforcer, he flexed his ability to offer skill as well as hostility. Wagner is different to Southee, Boult and Bracewell because he's more of a 'hit the deck' bowler while Southee, Boult and Bracewell tend to bowl along the pitch; 'kiss the deck' bowlers who rely on swing more than anything.
Wagner was the pick of the kiwi bowlers and maybe Wagner needs to be promoted, with three bowlers who bowl along the pitch being a few too many.
Kaptain Kane is world-class and it showed, with the disparity between his quality of batting and the rest of the kiwi batsmen a sign of just how good Williamson is ... and just how far the others have to grow. In saying that, it was fabulous to see Henry Nicholls top-score in the second innings with 76, offering some sort of resistance.
More than anything, we were all reminded that Dale Steyn is up there with the best pace bowlers the world has ever seen. Philander must be considered in a similar bracket, he just hasn't done it for so long and goes about his business in a different manner. The Blackcaps got one Test against these two and maybe with a few more Tests, the young batsmen would have been able to learn from their mistakes between Tests and make necessary adjustments. In a one-off Test though, South Africa flexed.
Facing Steyn, Philander and Rabada in South Africa with favourable bowling conditions is one end of the Test cricket spectrum. At the other end you've got playing in India and we should all look enjoy and look forward to this Blackcaps team facing such challenges, there'll be long-term benefits.