TIME TO FIX THE FLAWS

Problems aplenty as South Africa grapple with lack of depth

by Aayush Puthran • Last updated on

We don't play as much A cricket as they (India) do around the world. When you do come together, we have a lot less time to get things right, a lot less opportunities - Zondo. © Getty

In the second game of the quadrangular series, South Africa A were reduced to 167 for 7 in the 31st over, chasing 322. All Khaya Zondo had to his luxury was the tail to work with. But with calculated assault, he managed to take the chase to the penultimate over.

Such was his optimism that even with 37 runs needed off the last two overs, and only the last batsman left, he believed he could chase it down. With a short boundary to target and the bowlers failing to hit the desired length, Zondo had a full-fledged plan to go about his task. "I know they were nervous," he said. However, one error in judgement left the last man exposed and the chase ended.

South Africa did not win the match but for Zondo, it was a timely century. Given the context of the series and what a good performance can do to Zondo, there was enough reason to celebrate. After all, how much do results matter in 'A' series? But soon after the game, he wore a dejected look, and spoke about the importance of winning.

His comments could have been seen as lip service, but in the context of South Africa's second-string side they held weight because the simple fact is that they haven't been winning a lot of games.

Since January 2016, South Africa A, or SA's second XI, have managed to win only have won only 6 out of their 26 games - two coming against Afghanistan A and one against Zimbabwe A. Their three other victories came against India, a team they have played against 11 times in this period. In none of their nine games against England and Australia did they manage to win. Coach Russell Domingo had stressed the need to turn that record around before this quadrangular series, but they will return home from India with one win from four completed games. While in the batting department, they had only one century and two fifties to boast of, in bowling as well, barring Dane Paterson's impressive fifer, Beauran Hendericks (24.00) Robert Frylink (29.00), were the only others to have decent outings.

South Africa A's (and South Africa second XI) performance since January 2016

Series Wins Losses Draws NR Remarks South Africa A tour of Zimbabwe 1 0 1 0 Unofficial Tests South Africa A tour of Australia 0 2 0 0 Unofficial Tests South African Invitation XI vs Sri Lanka 0 0 1 0 Tour match South Africa A tour of England 0 2 0 1 Unofficial ODIs South Africa A tour of England 0 1 0 0 Unofficial Test Afghanistan A and India A in South Africa 3 2 0 0 Lost in the final (50 overs) India A tour of South Africa 1 1 0 0 Unofficial Tests England tour of South Africa practice matches 0 1 1 0 3-day games England tour of South Africa practice match 0 1 0 0 50-over practice match England tour of South Africa practice match 0 1 0 0 20-over practice match South Africa A tour of India 0 0 1 0 3-day practice match South Africa A tour of India 0 1 1 0 Unofficial Tests A Team Quadrangular series 1 3 0 0 (Finished last) 50-overs

Results at the A level may appear to have little consequence, but South Africa's record hints at some alarming trends beneath the surface - specifically a lack of depth.

While the national team has managed to maintain its standard in the international arena, they have largely done so on the back of a handful of exceptionally talented cricketers that largely escaped the grind of their domestic structure.

In the last 10 years, 38 players have made their debuts for Proteas in ODIs, out of which only nine have managed to feature in more than 36 games. Out of these, Farhaan Behardien, Imran Tahir, Faf du Plessis and Ryan McLaren were the only players to have emerged at the back of impressive domestic performances.

More common are cases of shooting stars. Kagiso Rabada, Quinton de Kock, Chris Morris and David Miller have been central to South Africa's set-up ever since they made their debuts, but neither of the four had to play more than three seasons before making their maiden international appearance. Same was the case with Aiden Markram and Lungisani Ngidi - both of whom made their debuts this year.

The story isn't too different with their Test setup either. The only players to have made their debuts in recent times at the back of strong domestic performances, and cemented their places (in the Test team), are Keshav Maharaj and Dean Elgar. And while they aren't ordinary by any means, their secured spots are also aided by the lack of quality alternatives.

South Africa A's poor performances are also a reflection of where their standard of domestic cricket lies at the moment.

Instead of the AB de Villiers and the Dale Steyns, it is in the tales of Dane Vilas, Stiaan van Zyl, Hardus Viljoen, Stephen Cook, Heino Kuhn and Dane Piedt, among others, that a truer picture of where the standard of South African cricket stands is seen. They are the ones who were battle-hardened in the domestic setup, got their opportunities at the international level, failed to impress, and were eventually discarded. It hasn't helped the quality of domestic cricket that some of them subsequently went Kolpak. The complexity of selection has also made it tougher for the board to retain their better players in the domestic game.

All of this is being reflected in the 'A' team, and raises the question of whether they have ample players who can take South African cricket forward. The results suggest they will stay reliant on insanely talented cricketers to keep coming up, instead of cricketers going through the progression of domestic cricket and the 'A' setup before making their international debuts.

Another issue with South Africa is that the 'A' team plays, on an average, three series/tours every year. The players keep changing all the time. It isn't a year-round process for them, where a more structured approach is adopted in harnessing the players who have reached that level. There is little time to develop a team culture or a winning habit.

Even as South Africa A managed to win only one game in their month-long tour of India, lost the unofficial Test series and finished last in the quadrangulars, Zondo isn't too critical of his team's performances. "We don't play as much A cricket as they (India) do around the world. When you do come together, we have a lot less time to get things right, a lot less opportunities.

"It's a bit tough when you have to play against an Indian side which has toured England, played West Indies and it is your first game in three months. The chances (of winning against them) are very slim."

But he also accepts the reality that is for South Africa now and stresses that, in the absence of a better option, the players to make the most of the opportunities available, to look at the control-ables. "If we are winning as an A side, then a whole lot of us are putting a lot more pressure with our performances; putting a lot more pressure on the players who are playing for the Proteas. That leads to a healthier system, especially for the selectors. It gives them the right kind of headaches."

It also leads to more victories at 'A' level, which not only creates knowledge of how to win but is something that will breed extra confidence at international level.

"You play against players like Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Manish Pandey - all these guys who represent their countries," Zondo explained. "So when you go against them (at the international level), you will believe in yourself. You will be like, 'No man! I've played against them enough, I have won a game against them, I have done well'."

That will have to wait until next time. For now, South Africa A's August tour to India wasn't simply a tour of defeats, it was a snoozed reminder of the issues that stem from the grassroots.

© Cricbuzz

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