Pakistan’s humiliation of being bowled out for 49 in South Africa this week is a pain that many countries around the world know all too well.
Less than 18-months ago Australia was routed in South Africa for 47, while the Proteas win in the third test in Perth this summer can be put down to their second innings bowling efforts.
Their current pace lineup of Steyn, Morkel, Philander and Kallis is surely the most feared in the world, with perhaps only England having similar talent and depth.
The most impressive aspect of South Africa’s attack is the way they bowl as a unit.
Dale Steyn is the leader: aggressive, fast and accurate and superbly complemented by the height and bounce of Morne Morkel, and the swing of Vernon Philander and Jacques Kallis.
In the first two tests this summer, Steyn seemed slightly off his game, and Morkel was able to step up.
Bowling a tight line and length, he took the reins as Graeme Smith’s go to man until Steyn found his mojo. And find it he did with a brilliant game in the third and deciding test.
Michael Clarke in the form of his life could do nothing as Steyn was unplayable, proving why he is the worlds greatest quick.
Pakistan have been embarrassed by South Africa’s pace quartet, an attack that has been described by Allan Donald, perhaps the greatest paceman the Proteas have produced, as the best their country has seen.
The West Indies attack of Holding, Marshall, Croft, Garner, Walsh, Ambrose and co. of the 1980s – early 90s is incomparable.
But South Africa’s current line-up is up there with other modern day great partnerships – McGrath, Gillespie, Lee; Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis; Allan Donald and Shaun Pollock.
South Africa as a team are superb to watch. Smith is an astute and ultra-competitive leader, Hasham Amla’s has a near flawless batting technique, their middle order of De Villiers, du Plessis and Duminy is quality in all forms of the game.
The Proteas pace bowling unit ensures they are never out of a contest. The only part of the line-up yet to be fully established is that of a world-class spinner, with Imran Tahir completely dominated in Australia.
The fact the Proteas could not be swayed to play in Australian crickets showpiece event the Boxing Day Test is a great shame, while a one-day and T20 series between the two nations surely to have received bigger crowds than the Sri Lankan and West Indians encounters have delivered.
South Africa have their own summer of cricket to grow, so their reasons for wishing to play a home series against New Zealand is understandable.
The three Test matches played here however left the Australian cricket public wanting more, and the rest of the summer has not really lived up to the same standards.
The next time the two countries meet could be the June Champions Trophy, however the next red ball cricket will most likely be an Australian tour to the Republic.
Hopefully Australia’s side is more settled by then, and we are talking about Cummins, Pattinson, Siddle and Starc in the same vein as Steyn, Morkel, Philander and Kallis.
Suzy Poison
Guest
Good Article Pete_Lock. SA must be doing something correct to bowl out three good test teams, for under 50runs, in one innings. Australia, New Zealand and Pakistan. However you don't once mention Vernon Philander. He for me, is the reason Steyn is bowling better. Morkel and Steyn have been around a bit, but it was the addition of Philander that has made this bowling battery improve. Like McGrath was after a few Warne overs, they operated in tandem, Philander is a good foil for Steyn. Just quietly he is currently ranked as the number two best bowler in Test Cricket, with an average of just over 17 runs a wicket. Philander made his debut against Australia in November 2011, with a man of the match performance 5-15. So he has only been on the scene for a year and a half. In 13 matches, he has 74 test wickets. He was the second fastest bowler in history to get 50wickets. (in 7 tests) But he doesn't get much press here in Oz. I am not sure why.
Richard
Guest
I wouldn't have said they are light years away. Starc is developing very quickly, Pattinson is young but I think he is on the cusp of really coming good(we shall see). Forget Cummins for the time being. Bird could do anything in England and Of course Siddle is in his prime. I have a hunch they might all fire in unison come the ashes in England, should be a good show.
Dadiggle
Guest
They do but we don't play cricket on a pitch almost as hard as cement turf IMO. Ball gets softer in Australia very quickly
chris
Guest
I am pretty sure South Africa also uses the Kookabura ball.
Dadiggle
Guest
Let me tell you a little secret. In South Africa the new ball does a lot of tricks. You need to knock the shine of it first. But the other trick is that its not the soft Kookabura balls normally used in Australia that is softer and gets older very quickly.. So you must make sure you do not face it in the mornings when the pitch has juice in it. It will be carnage. The last test vs Australia South Africa knew this and knock the laces of it it very quickly leaving them with a lot of overs till the new ball. Just look at Pakistan 2nd innings. When the new ball came it was game over. Last test vs England. When the new ball arrived game over
didn't know that, but it sounds rather impressive.
Dadiggle
Guest
Give credit where credit is due Johnno South Africa have now dismissed their opponents without even allowing them the token applause for reaching 50 on three occasions in their past 17 Tests and 32 innings. That is the same number of times as the entire planet managed to bowl out an opposition for under 49 in the 1560 Test matches played, and 5659 innings bowled,
JGK
Roar Guru
Yes they did because Pattinson breaking down meant that Siddle and Hilf were overworked in Adelaide and therefore rested for Perth.
bilo
Guest
You're right JGK, we didn't lose that test. I was trying to say we would normally "win" comfortably a match with those first day results. Mark Nicholas wrote in Cricinfo after the series loss, "Australia lost the Perth Test in Adelaide". I think that was about right. Not that I'm a fan of Mark Nicholas.
nervern
Guest
Lol. Can't believe some of you guys actually think that the proteas bowling attack aint that great...lol. Damn 3 teams in 15months bungled out for less than fifty isn't a sign of greatness? Yes we don't have a spinner that's world class but we actually never had a prob with not having one...! We wont stop winning until every test nation bow down before us and give us our due...29 series unbeaten run is our ultimate aim...and we will conquer the windies legend.
shakazul
Guest
It would be superior because of the balance and Warne.
shakazul
Guest
Jimmys superb analysis of the Kallis vs Sobers debate has put the matter to rest for all time. Kallis clearly superior by some distance. Sobers ranks as one of the all time great batsmen but a mediocre test bowler.
jimmy
Guest
Oops! Now twenty one 5 fors. And another 10 wicket match.He can bowl a bit.
Felix
Guest
The new ball can bring lots of runs but steyn's bowling with the new ball is suicidal for batsman because we are humans,we dont move sideways like crabs naturally :-)
It is more a sarcastic dig at thise who doesn't rate Kallis, but be it as it may, the point remains.
Ben
Guest
I personally don't think this South African Side is up where the Windies where in the 80''s early Ninties and the Australian Team from early to Mid Nighties to 2005/6. South Africa has a very good bowling squad, best in the world at the moment and thats about it. World Cricket is weak at the Moment, and the Current Aussie side is ranked 2nd/3rd and the South Africans couldn't put them away. Australia's biggest enemy are the Selectors. Once we get the Selectors soughted out. You might be regretting in fact, a little embarressed writing this article.
Johnno
Guest
Australia's 1992/92 bowling attack was pretty good. Craig Mcdermott Bruce Reid Merv Hughes Mike Whitney Joe Angel Greg Matthews Shane Warne 7/52 at the MCG Tim May 5/9 in fine form at Adelaide oval
Ice
Guest
All bowlers have their ERA and in this case the SA pace attack are living their ERA. I think what makes a GREAT BOWLER GREAT is the ability to recover after a bad day & perform at his best the following day. I do relies that this AU comments surely pride on the fact that they've had their share with LEE, Gillespie, McGrath & WARNE being nr1 in their ERA . But in this case the SA attack are balanced without a doubt because when 1 bowler fails the next will back him up.
Matt h
Guest
Apart from the sarcastic dig at Sobers, I agree with you. We are obviously seeing an all time great attack, just that not everyone appears to know that at the moment. SA owned England in England last year as well. Steun is seriously a legend
Felix
Guest
Cummins has two years in the wilderness to get back any semblance of skill, he hasn't Bowled a red ball in years. Starc is formidable at present with a white ball but is well short of anyone in the SA lineup yet. Pattinson is good when fit, but they are all light years away from consistently scaring batsmen the way SA do.