Being able to pick 7 batters has helped us – Gary Kirsten – Cricket News Update
South African Head Coach, Gary Kirsten, has attributed his team’s rise to the top of the Test rankings on being able to pick 7 batters which gives them an ‘X-factor’ over other Test playing nations.
The Proteas returned home after an emphatic triumph over Australia in the three-match Test series, which they won by a 1-0 margin following their impressive victory in the deciding Test at Perth.
After sharing honours on the opening day of the match, the tourists cemented their authority by dismantling the Aussies to set an intimidating target of 632, before bowling their opponents out on 322. Having already upset England and claimed the coveted no.1 spot, their authoritative win at WACA allows them to strengthen their hold on the ICC Test mace and start the year as the team to beat.
For Kirsten however, their winning streak stems from their ability to field in 7 specialist batsmen. Since the retirement of Mark Boucher, who suffered an eye injury ahead of the team’s bouts against England, the side has been able to use the wicket-keeping prowess of AB de Villiers, and accommodate an extra batter in the side.
JP Duminy claimed that position in England, and performed exceptionally well in that role by scoring 135 runs at 67.50 in the three-match Test series. A freak injury during the opening game at Brisbane, which ruled him out for six months, allowed Faf du Plessis to stake his claim, and the batter showed immense resilience to notch up a century on debut at Adelaide.
That innings helped his side stay alive in the series before he further earned recognition after scoring a crucial half-century in the first innings of the deciding Test.
"We can pick a No.7 batter and that has helped us in certain situations. We don't take that combination lightly. We know how important that is to our Test side in terms of the performances that we all want. There might come a time when we need to look at it another way but for now we have that," Kirsten said at the team's arrival in Cape Town.
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