A Protea Fire Extinguished: South African Test Cricket Slowly Pouring Cold Water on my Cricket Spirit.

Imagine being in a relationship that you have to do all you can to keep the relationship bouncing on, well that is the sort of union the South African bowlers are in with their batting counterparts or should I say those that are currently masquerading as South African batsmen in Australia.

I was one of those that woke up or rather stayed up to watch a rivalry renewed, 12 midnight was the call time if you were in London, freezing cold temperatures of -2, I made myself a bit more comfortable with hot wings and garlic bread courtesy of food ordering apps.   

Excited to watch the Proteas of South Africa, take on the Australian National team in the test series down under. That Protea fire excitement was soon extinguished as the Proteas batsmen collapsed again as they have done in recent times.

The team has not managed to forge a score above 350 in the last eight tests, when Elgar and whoever has partnered him to open the batting, one can see the lack of confidence when they walk out.

At the Gabba, one could argue the pitch did not do an already vulnerable SA batting line up any favours, but at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) where the home side has managed to produce two centurions, there are no excuses.

After the Proteas succumbed to a mere 189 in their first innings, Australia lead by 371 from a first innings total of 575 which offered a redemption double hundred for David Warner and a first test hundred from Alex Carey, the two scores proving that the surface had nothing to do with the South African collapse.

The Proteas batting test performances have not been the only ones that have left a lot to be desired, decision making too. Elgar persisted with Kagiso Rabada when he was clearly struggling to hit the right areas.

Keshav Maharaj was not introduced into the attack until day 3, considering the insistence of having him in the side instead of an extra batsman. Did we mention the placement of Temba Bavuma at third slip when he is the shortest in the squad? A couple of balls went flying past him when Marco Jansen could have made an effort with those half chances.

Selection has not helped the proteas either. Victor Mpitsang and his team leaving Ryan Rickelton at home when he is the inform batsman is one of many questionable decisions. When England cricket needed a revamp of their test team, change came with a new CEO, captain and test coach.

As a cricket fan, watching test cricket has been the staple of most festive seasons, waking up to watch the proteas down under was a highlight, as seeing Faf score a century at the Adelaide Oval, or captain Graeme Smith trying to save a test match with a broken hand.

The current crop does not fill one with an expectant feeling of exploits but rather an uncontrolled flow of anxiety as you never know how low they can go and mostly it has been heartbreak after heartbreak.

When England needed change, it came in the form of managing director, Rob Key, captain Ben Stokes and coach Brandon McCullum, one hopes the answer to proteas woes come fast whether through a change of guard or not.

My Protea fire is still burning, but the current teams’ performances are slowly dwindling that little light and if it fully goes dim, reigniting will need more than a change in the team’s leadership but world defining victories.

Day four at the MCG will start with the Proteas trailing by 371 runs with nine wickets in hand, if victory is on the cards, then Elgar and his charges will have to play as world beating cricketers than a group of tourists masquerading as a test cricketing nation enjoying the summer down under as they did at the Gabba.