Proteas bowling attack aims to tame in-form Aussies
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The first Test against Australia is less than a week away, and while the famous Aussie bowling quartet of Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins will be grabbing headlines given their outstanding records, the Proteas have a fiery bowling attack of their own.
On their day, the Proteas bowling attack can take on any team in the world.
With a combination of box-office fast bowlers, reliable spinners and promising young talent in the squad, South Africa certainly have all the tools available to take down the number one ranked team in the ICC World Test Championship in their backyard.
However, going up against a stacked Australian batting lineup on grounds they have never played before will be no easy feat, and come 17 December, the chosen bowling attack will need to be firing on all cylinders.
Box office
Kagiso Rabada, 27, will be leading the Proteas bowling attack against Australia. The right-arm fast bowler has been a mainstay in the South African side since making his Test debut as a 20-year-old against India in 2015.
Currently ranked sixth in the ICC Test bowling rankings, and having held the number one spot on numerous occasions, Rabada has firmly proven himself to be one of the best bowlers in the world, and is the most experienced bowler in the Proteas lineup.
In 55 Tests, he has taken 257 wickets at an average of 22.46 — which includes 12 five-wicket hauls and four 10-wicket hauls, with best match figures of 13 for 144.
Rabada featured in SA’s 2016/17 tour to Australia as well as the infamous 2018 home series — both of which ended in series victories for the Proteas. His record shows he is more than up to the task against the world’s best in the red-ball format.
In seven matches against the Aussies, Rabada has taken 38 wickets at an average of 20.50, with three five-wicket hauls, one 10-wicket haul, and best figures of six for 54.
Slow and steady
In a country known for producing high-quality fast bowlers, spinners have often come and gone in the Proteas Test setup in recent years — with the likes of Imran Tahir, Dane Piedt, Senuran Muthusamy and Tabraiz Shamsi coming to mind.
However, Keshav Maharaj has stuck.
The 32-year-old is statistically South Africa’s greatest Test spinner, having surpassed the record of Paul Adams.
In 45 Tests, Maharaj has taken 154 wickets at an average of 30.61, which includes nine five-wicket hauls, one 10-wicket haul, ...
On their day, the Proteas bowling attack can take on any team in the world.
With a combination of box-office fast bowlers, reliable spinners and promising young talent in the squad, South Africa certainly have all the tools available to take down the number one ranked team in the ICC World Test Championship in their backyard.
However, going up against a stacked Australian batting lineup on grounds they have never played before will be no easy feat, and come 17 December, the chosen bowling attack will need to be firing on all cylinders.
Box office
Kagiso Rabada, 27, will be leading the Proteas bowling attack against Australia. The right-arm fast bowler has been a mainstay in the South African side since making his Test debut as a 20-year-old against India in 2015.
Currently ranked sixth in the ICC Test bowling rankings, and having held the number one spot on numerous occasions, Rabada has firmly proven himself to be one of the best bowlers in the world, and is the most experienced bowler in the Proteas lineup.
In 55 Tests, he has taken 257 wickets at an average of 22.46 — which includes 12 five-wicket hauls and four 10-wicket hauls, with best match figures of 13 for 144.
Rabada featured in SA’s 2016/17 tour to Australia as well as the infamous 2018 home series — both of which ended in series victories for the Proteas. His record shows he is more than up to the task against the world’s best in the red-ball format.
In seven matches against the Aussies, Rabada has taken 38 wickets at an average of 20.50, with three five-wicket hauls, one 10-wicket haul, and best figures of six for 54.
Slow and steady
In a country known for producing high-quality fast bowlers, spinners have often come and gone in the Proteas Test setup in recent years — with the likes of Imran Tahir, Dane Piedt, Senuran Muthusamy and Tabraiz Shamsi coming to mind.
However, Keshav Maharaj has stuck.
The 32-year-old is statistically South Africa’s greatest Test spinner, having surpassed the record of Paul Adams.
In 45 Tests, Maharaj has taken 154 wickets at an average of 30.61, which includes nine five-wicket hauls, one 10-wicket haul, ...