LONDON: South Africa’s shaky top six and lack of Test-level runs were revealed as England won a bowler-dominated three-game series 2-1 on Monday, leaving the captain on tour Dean Elgar with plenty to ponder before their next five-day posting to Australia.
South Africa scored 326 in their lone run at Lord’s in the first Test but failed to score above 179 in their next four visits to the crease as Elgar conceded his Fragile middle order was letting the team down.
They used every hitter on their extended run in the series, but only Sarel Erwee managed a single half-century.
“I always bet on experience and we don’t have any in testing,” Elgar told reporters. “The best thing to do is who do we have with experience in first-class cricket at home? Is that the right fit, we don’t know yet.
“We have a few months until our next series (in Australia from December 17) but we only have a handful of four-day matches until then.”
Gone are the days when Graeme Smith, Jacques Kallis, Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers dominated the home and away bowling attacks as South Africa climbed to the top of the Test standings.
“New players had to learn in the most difficult format with little experience around them, which we have always been aware of due to the number of guys who retired consecutively,” Elgar said.
South Africa have Temba Bavuma and Rassie van der Dussen on the injured list and they are likely to return for the Australian series, but such is the team’s predicament there could be up to five spots in the top six currently up for grabs.
“It’s about getting runs, that’s our motto as batsmen,” Elgar said. “It’s tough when guys don’t get numbers on the board for you. Sooner or later you’ll have to look elsewhere.”
Elgar would not be drawn to England’s “Bazball” attacking style of play, but felt the home side had used controlled aggression in the series.
“I don’t mean that word,” he said. “I didn’t think they were playing ultra-aggressive cricket, just really good tempo, which you can manage and control when you’re ahead in the game.
“I didn’t see the ‘B-word’ at all, I just thought they had it well under control.”
South Africa scored 326 in their lone run at Lord’s in the first Test but failed to score above 179 in their next four visits to the crease as Elgar conceded his Fragile middle order was letting the team down.
They used every hitter on their extended run in the series, but only Sarel Erwee managed a single half-century.
“I always bet on experience and we don’t have any in testing,” Elgar told reporters. “The best thing to do is who do we have with experience in first-class cricket at home? Is that the right fit, we don’t know yet.
“We have a few months until our next series (in Australia from December 17) but we only have a handful of four-day matches until then.”
Gone are the days when Graeme Smith, Jacques Kallis, Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers dominated the home and away bowling attacks as South Africa climbed to the top of the Test standings.
“New players had to learn in the most difficult format with little experience around them, which we have always been aware of due to the number of guys who retired consecutively,” Elgar said.
South Africa have Temba Bavuma and Rassie van der Dussen on the injured list and they are likely to return for the Australian series, but such is the team’s predicament there could be up to five spots in the top six currently up for grabs.
“It’s about getting runs, that’s our motto as batsmen,” Elgar said. “It’s tough when guys don’t get numbers on the board for you. Sooner or later you’ll have to look elsewhere.”
Elgar would not be drawn to England’s “Bazball” attacking style of play, but felt the home side had used controlled aggression in the series.
“I don’t mean that word,” he said. “I didn’t think they were playing ultra-aggressive cricket, just really good tempo, which you can manage and control when you’re ahead in the game.
“I didn’t see the ‘B-word’ at all, I just thought they had it well under control.”