The Proteas' recent tour in the United Arab Emirates has concluded with mixed results. Winning four matches and losing an equal number, the team faced challenges across various formats, including a disappointing ODI series defeat to Afghanistan.
Here, Ongama Gcwabe summarises the critical insights from this tour.
Lack of Efficacy Against Spin
South African batters' struggles against spin were highlighted once again during this tour, particularly after the ODI series loss to Afghanistan. The prowess of Afghan spinners like Rashid Khan and Allah Ghazanfar, ensured the South African batting line-up was bowled out for just 106 and 134 in Sharjah.
This recurring issue indicates a deep-rooted challenge for the team, especially given the abundance of quality spin encountered in international tours and leagues like the Indian Premier League.
Domestic Cricket Exposed
The gap between domestic and international cricket will almost always be significant. However, it really shouldn't be as big as it appears to be between local domestic and international cricket. Looking at the performances in the UAE, particularly the batting performances against spin, it suggests that South African batters do not face enough quality spinners here at home.
The Glimmer of Hope
Despite the setbacks, there were promising performances from South African players during their UAE trip. Tristan Stubbs made a notable contribution with a century in the middle-order, complemented by solid innings from Jason Smith and Ryan Rickelton.
Additionally, all-rounder Patrick Kruger emerged as a standout performer, addressing questions about the all-rounder line-up ahead of the Pakistan T20 series this summer. On the bowling front, both slow left-arm orthodox Bjorn Fortuin and leg-break bowler Nqaba Peter have provided coach Rob Walter with valuable options to consider as replacements for Keshav Maharaj and Tabraiz Shamsi.