The most remarkable aspect about South Africa’s commanding Test series victory in Australia was that they achieved it with little or no input from four key players.
Those quality cricketers are all-time great batsmen AB de Villiers and Hashim Amla, and intimidating new ball pair Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel.
All four of those men have fantastic records against Australia and, combined, own 661 wickets and more than 17,000 runs in Test cricket. When South Africa last toured Australia each of them had standout Test series as the Proteas triumphed 1-0.
De Villiers and Amla together crunched 653 runs at an average of 59 across that three-Test series. Meanwhile, it was Steyn and Morkel who carried the Proteas attack, combining for 26 wickets at 29.
When Australia ventured to South Africa in early 2014 and beat the home side 2-1, Amla, De Villiers and Steyn each had a brilliant series.
This time around, however, De Villiers missed the series through injury, Morkel was left out of the team, Steyn went down injured midway through the first Test and Amla had no impact with the bat, averaging just 19.
Into this gaping void stepped Quinton de Kock, Kagiso Rabada, Kyle Abbott, Temba Bavuma, and Keshav Maharaj.
Bavuma’s series return of 162 runs at 32 looks ordinary but when the series was on the line the pint-sized batsman stood up. In the first Test at Perth, the 26-year-old arrived at the crease with his side in disarray at 4-32 on the opening day.
Together with de Kock he soaked up the pressure and calmly stroked his way to a crucial half-century, which allowed the Proteas to post a competitive total.
At Hobart South Africa’s top six again crumbled, leaving them reeling at 4-76. Once more it was Bavuma and de Kock to the rescue. By the time they had finished their 160-run stand South Africa were in an impregnable position. In both Tests Bavuma showed a fine temperament and a compact, uncomplicated technique. He was untroubled by the short ball and left deliveries well.
Bavuma is currently positioned at six but he looks capable of batting anywhere in the order. He has the game to potentially succeed Hashim Amla at first drop in the coming years. Batting behind him at seven, de Kock is the best cricketer on the planet under the age of 25.
Like Bavuma he would not look out of place far higher up the order. For now, however, de Kock is a weapon at seven. He has made such an impression this summer that ex-players Ricky Ponting and Michael Vaughan compared him to Australian legend Adam Gilchrist, the greatest keeper-batsman in cricket history.
De Kock is gifted enough to match the extraordinary feats of Gilchrist. Similar to Gilchrist he is a versatile batsman who is equally adept at steadying his side after a collapse or ramming home the advantage once a platform has been set.
His glovework is still some way short of the standard set by Gilchrist but, at just 23 years of age, he has many years to sharpen it.
In 21-year-old quick Kagiso Rabada, South Africa may have the second most talented young cricketer in the world. After 11 Tests, Rabada has the fantastic record of 44 wickets at 24.
What first catches the eye with Rabada is his unnerving pace, intimidating bouncers and searing yorkers. The more you watch this young man, however, the more you notice his uncommon intelligence. It is rare to see a fast bowler of his age who sets up batsman as cleverly as Rabada.
While de Kock and Rabada are prodigies, Abbott is somewhat of a late bloomer. Finally, at the age of 29, he appears on the verge of cementing his Test spot.
For years he was stuck behind the elite pace trio of Steyn, Morkel and Vernon Philander. Then along strode Rabada to push Abbott further back in the pecking order. Now, with Steyn facing a long-term injury and Morkel out of favour, Abbott has a gilded opportunity.
South Africa’s next Test assignment is in New Zealand where the likely seaming pitches should be tailor made for the accurate Abbott. The tall right armer is similar to Philander and Australia’s Josh Hazlewood in that he does not swing the ball prodigiously or possess great pace.
Instead he plays on the patience of batsmen, landing delivery after delivery on a tight line and length to create pressure and, eventually, a false stroke.
Maharaj employs a similar method with his left arm spin. He is not the type of tweaker who will run through a side with mesmerising spells like Pakistan’s Yasir Shah or India’s Ravi Ashwin.
Instead he seeks to tie up one end and build pressure upon which his pace colleagues can capitalise. South Africa’s pace stocks are so supreme that they do not need a match-winning spinner. What they require is a reliable, frugal tweaker who can offer control to his skipper.
The Proteas have not had such a slow bowler since Paul Harris played the last of his Tests almost six years ago.
In his debut series, Maharaj was the most economical bowler from either side, giving up just 2.47 runs per over. Strangely he was dumped for the last Test in favour of the more attacking but less dependable Tabraiz Shamsi. The chinaman bowler took 2-150 on debut, with one of those wickets being batting bunny Nathan Lyon.
Maharaj impressed Australian fans with his accuracy and loop. He also offers greater depth in the tail with his enterprising batting. The Proteas would be wise to give Maharaj a decent run as the first-choice spinner.
In he, Rabada, de Kock, Abbott and Bavuma, the Proteas have enviable depth beyond the star bunch of de Villiers, Steyn, Amla, Morkel, Philander and Faf du Plessis.
Brendon the 1st
Guest
Ronan loves de kock :) Sorry.
Lancey5times
Guest
Are these numbers tests played? Players used? Temperature at home tests? Cholesterol levels?
Rats
Guest
To be honest, SA must start playing more Tests in a year. They play fewer Tests than even WI. India too plays less Tests. Look at England and Australia.. SA need to play more Tests to know how good they are with player management, fatigue and overall consistency. India 29 England 44 Australia 40 Pakistan 32 South Africa 29 New Zealand 38 Sri Lanka 35 West Indies 30
Liam
Guest
I agree, but that wasn't really what I was getting at. It's more to do with the fact that, right now, SA is where Australian cricket was in 2006; the players in the side are dominant, resurgent, after a period where they performed well below themselves. You've had numerous players who could've played world cricket but haven't due to lack of available spots, so now there are injuries of course you have depth. My issue is that this article is using a single series - a series where Australia didn't really challenge SA at all, folding cheaply, never really testing your bowling in any way whatsoever - to support a conclusion that is hyperbole to say the least. It isn't your depth that is my issue; it's the fact that your depth wasn't challenged, really, so how can we assess them properly?
Brains of a bimbo (Atgm)
Guest
M a huge ea sports fifa fan so i'll rate this sa sides Overall skill atm and potential out of 100 Cook 69 77 elgar 72 80 amla 90 90 faf 83 83 duminy 75 75 bavuma 73 85 qdk 80 92 philander 88 88 abott 82 82 rabada 80 94 shamsi 70 80 steyn 82 82 morkel 88 88 maharaj 72 80 abdv 94 94
Lancey5times
Guest
I don't know much about Rossouw. Duminy would be unlucky to miss out in a reshuffle
Tim Holt
Roar Guru
The beauty of QDK is not just his game changing batting but his elite glovework, he is an outstanding keeper. I still have friends in RSA after being schooled there for two years and they all put him in the same bracket as Denis Lindsay. That is some type of respect for Lindsay was outrageously good in all disciplines. As for their team, it will be interesting if they give Rilee Rossouw a go
Don Freo
Guest
Not according to this article. That's what I was responding to.
davSA
Guest
Hi Ronan, we've discussed Abbott, Bavuma , Rabada and De Kock often enough through the series. The one player I now really want to see into the squad is Rossouw. Such a clean hitter , has a great eye and plenty of shot variety. There are a few very exciting players emerging back home ie Pretorius and Mulder are names that come to mind. .. As far as the Aussies are concerned from what I have noticed is there is some serious young talent available both batting and bowling and just a few more wins and a bit more confidence is all that is now required. Also Steve Smith is now gathering players around him that he wants.Very Important.. But sorry to our Aussie cousins , we want our nr 1 test spot back. you can keep the ODI .
Chris Love
Roar Guru
I think cook has some serious improvement in him. I think once he's faced a lot more 140+kph quicks on decks offering a little, and scored a couple more tons that nervousness about him may leave him. I think he has the skills it's just a matter of time in the middle for him to realise that. It's a pity for him that it came together in the last innings of the series. Would have loved to have seen him come out to bat in two more tests. Then we'd really know if this was just a flash in the pan or not.
AREH
Roar Guru
Yeah I seem to think Bavuma as an opener given he's pretty gutsy, fighting type of batsman could work. Otherwise Rossouw/Elgar would be a workable duo; Rossouw brings an attacking game which might complement them nicely. Look it's probably harsh to knock Cook given the tremendous century he has just made, but that innings aside, he looked vulnerable and shaky constantly, and I still wouldn't be convinced he is a test player albeit clearly dominant at first class level in SA.
Chris Love
Roar Guru
That's a very bold call on Steyn. While we have promise going forward, South Africa should be all but world dominator for the next 3 years or more and should comfortably maintain the #1 spot over that period.
Brian
Guest
I don't think Amla will open if anything he should probably go down the order. Think it will be Edgar, Rossouw, Amla, De Villiers, Du Plessis, Bavuma, De Kock or ask Bavuma to open Edgar, Bavuma, Amla, Duminy, Du Plessis, De Villiers, De Kock
Lancey5times
Guest
Surely depth applies to available players
Lancey5times
Guest
Out of curiosity Charging, What is your SA top seven when AB returns? Based on what I have seen this tour I would have Elgar/Amla/Du Plessis/Duminy/De Villiers/Bavuma/de Kock
Charging Rhino
Roar Guru
"Fast-forward to this year, and you have us getting beaten by SA at home."....? Well it happened the past two times as well.... 3 in a row now. I think the depth is pretty decent.
Charging Rhino
Roar Guru
Nice article Ronan. Really good to see a positive article about another team from an Aussie journo ;-) I'd like to think our current depth is "enviable", but it all depends of their performance and forthcoming results that will hopefully put them back on track and at that Number 1 spot in the rankings again, the spot they held for so long. It's amazing to think that from 2006 to 2015 they only lost 2 Tests series, both to Australia in South Africa, but beat or at least drew with everyone else everywhere, home and away. Then they fell off the rails last losing to England at home and India in India, the first loss to either side in more than 10 years. Quinny de Kock is great talent, I hopes he utilities that talent and becomes a great of cricket over the next 10 years or so. Rabada - Fire! Just what SA needed to come through as Morkel and Steyn are both ageing and unfortunately Dale is injured.
Don Freo
Guest
Steyn, De Villiers...referred to as "depth". Actually unavailable.
Lancey5times
Guest
What de Kock brings eliminates the need for a batting allrounder and gives the side so much balance and batting depth. He is fast becoming my favourite player to watch. Absolute gun. If there is a weakness it is a bankable opener. I know both got amongst the runs on this tour but they don't seem locks just yet. I wonder if Faf is an option higher up when AB comes back
Lancey5times
Guest
'Unavailable depth' Just think about that for a second