Debasis Sen, Centurion: South Africa are likely to unleash a towering Lungi Ngidi in the pacer friendly Super Sport Park wicket for the second test against India. Ngidi may make his test debut for an injured Dale Steyn. Chris Morris is also in the reckoning for the fourth seamer spot.
Talking about Ngidi, the six and half feet tall paceman bowls at a speed of 140 km per hour and is reckoned as one of South Africa’s most promising limited-overs prospects. The 21 year old Ngidi is from Durban and was schooled at Kwa-Zulu Natal’s Hilton College and was involved at every provincial age-group level from under-13.
He played for Kwa-Zulu Natal Under-19s at the Khaya Majola week in 2014, where he was spotted by Northerns. In January last year, Ngidi was picked for South Africa’s T20 squad to face Sri Lanka and was named Man of the Match on debut. His international career was just two games old when he was included in the ODI squad to face Sri Lanka later that month.
If Ngidi does make his test debut then the axe might fall on promising spinner Keshav Maharaj. The left arm spinner is the most promising spin bowler for Proteas at the moment. But even
As was the case ahead of the first Test at Newlands, selection is a major talking point for the second test match starting on Saturday.
The wicket at the Super Sport Park is expected to be favouring the fast bowlers. It will have enough pace, bounce and movement than the one at Newlands.
The hosts are likely to go for one of Duanne Olivier, Lungi Ngidi or Chris Morris as Dale Steyn’s replacement but they will field four quicks. That much is certain.
Maharaj literally had very little to do at Newlands, bowling just 10 overs.
But with four fit and, hopefully, firing seamers operating, hosts might as well go in with an extra batsman in Temba Bavuma.
In both innings in Cape Town, the Proteas found themselves in trouble.
They were 12/3 in their first dig while, on day four, they lost eight wickets before lunch.
Bavuma’s successes on the international stage have generally come when South Africa have had their backs against the wall.
Bavuma is incredibly balanced at the wicket, he leaves well and he has a good understanding of where his off stump is. If the ball moves around the way that it did in Cape Town, those could be valuable skills to have.