#360view: SA need to plan for future

Ajit Vijaykumar 07:17 30/12/2015
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  • Struggling: Dale Steyn.

    Dale Steyn didn’t bowl for a large part of the England second innings in the Durban Test. And even though no evidence of an injury was found, he is in considerable discomfort and is said to be doubtful for the New Year’s Test as well.

    For the Proteas, that is the worst possible news going into 2016. They are struggling to keep up with an energetic England side and the mood in the camp was already uncertain after news emerged that premier batsman AB de Villiers is contemplating his role in the Test team due to his increased workload and also some of the decisions made by the management over the past season. The last thing the Proteas needed was Steyn pulling up during a Test.

    An unfit Steyn not only weakens the South African attack immensely, it is also a psychological setback. The Proteas have been trying to keep up their standards after the retirements of Jacques Kallis and Graeme Smith.

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    Their 3-0 thrashing in the Test series in India put an end an incredible run of nine years without an away series defeat. But more importantly, it proved that cracks are appearing in their line-up.

    The absence of a top-class spinner, wicket keeper batsman and openers is beginning to show and if you remove Steyn from the mix, the situation starts to look grim.

    Unlike England who have been competitive despite the absence of pace ace James Anderson, the Proteas rely very heavily on Steyn.

    Morne Morkel has not grabbed the opportunity of being the leader of the pack and back-up bowlers Kyle Abbott and Dane Piedt are only reliable. Suddenly, their bowling attack looks at par with that of a few other teams.

    The situation doesn’t look promising but the South Africans must have known that this day would come.

    De Villiers simply can’t keep batting, keeping and leading in different formats with a bad back. Something will give at some point.

    Similarly, the wear and tear of bowling quick for a decade was bound to catch up with even someone as fit as Steyn. Fast bowlers will break down and

    Steyn has started to, after missing a major part of the Test series in India due to a groin strain.

    The Proteas must accept that the 32-year-old quick will have to pick and choose his games from now on and won’t be available all the time, just like de Villiers most probably will soon.

    And with that, the results will also take a turn for the worse. But instead of worrying about short term results, South Africa should start to make plans for the future.

    They have an excellent pace prospect in 20-year-old Kagiso Rabada while Quinton de Kock can be a long term wicketkeeping option. They must blood in the youngsters and even if they fail, persist with them.

    Anyhow, the option to wait is being taken away from the Proteas and they will have to accept reality.

    South Africa have consistently been among the top two sides in the world for nearly three decades.

    But nothing lasts forever. So instead of worrying about the slipping crown, South Africa must brace for the inevitable slip in results and have faith in the system that has produced world-class cricketers over the years.

    They might not be as great as the sides of years gone by but they still are a good team. Just that the gap between them and the rest has diminished greatly.

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