Dean Elgar ((Getty Images))
With a Test match finished in two days’ time, there will always be questions regarding Gabba’s bowling, as was the case after Proteas’ 6-wicket defeat to Australia in the opening Test on Sunday in Brisbane.
SCORECARD | Australia v Proteas – 1st Test
Thirty-four wickets fell in less than six sessions, as Proteas could only muster scores of 154 and 99. Only Kyle Verreynne, Temba Bavuma and Khaya Zondo spent any considerable time in between.
READ | Rabada’s lethal but woeful batting sees Proteas lose to Australia in 2 days
After the match, Proteas captain Dean Elgar acknowledged that it was a one-sided encounter, but when asked about the quality of the wicket at Gabba, Elgar did not hold back his opinion.
“You have to ask yourself the question, is it good publicity for our format [Test cricket]Elgar said.
“34 wickets in two days… [it’s] a rather one-sided affair, I would say. So I think that leads to what everyone is thinking, actually.
“I’m a stickler for this format and you want the game to last 4-5 days.
“Just from the shape, the nature of how he started playing with a very pronounced bounce with the old ball, I mean, you’re hiding as a hitter.
“If you think about it, only two batsmen, maybe three batsmen, applied half decently and scored runs. So, I don’t think it was a very good Test wicket, no,” Elgar told reporters.
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When asked about the general safety of the wicket, Elgar said that he had raised that point with the umpires.
“I asked the referees when KG [Rabada] got [Travis] Head down,” Elgar said.
“I said, ‘How long is it until it’s potentially unsafe?’
“Nortje was also bowling those short bowls that were flying over our heads. I know the game was dead and buried – it was never to try to change or stop the game, but that’s obviously where the umpire’s discretion comes into play, not us as players. It’s a tough question to answer, really.”
The Proteas now head to Melbourne for the Boxing Day test which begins on December 26, hoping their batsmen will show more application, no matter what type of terrain they face.
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