Much of the discourse going into the first Test between South Africa and Australia at Kingsmead on Friday has centered on the bowlers. Five of the home side’s have been struck down by a hamdemic. Four of the visitors’ are ranked among the world’s top 10.
One of the hamstrung is Kagiso Rabada, South Africa’s spearhead. He played in an intra-squad game in Durban on Sunday and Monday. But whether he will be in the XI remains uncertain.
Even so, the best bowlers in peak condition are nothing without runs to bowl at. That’s where batters come in. So how does Ashwell Prince ensure his charges’ preparation is balanced – between what’s happening at their end of the pitch and whatever those thundering towards the bowling crease are capable of doing
“In the game today analysis of the opposition is massive,” Prince told a press conference on Tuesday. “There’s lots of data points and lots of video footage. All of that is prepared and handed to the players.
“That department also has developed over the years. Back in the day we would spend hours as a whole team in a meeting, filtering through all of that information. That has become more specific.
“They players know who they’re going to be up against. And not every player wants to watch every variation that the bowler can bowl; spending too much time on detail. At the end of the day you have a very good understanding of their skill set.
“They have very good records as bowlers. They’ve been around for a long time and have had lots of success. That’s obvious. So you know you’re coming up against a good team. But we are also a good team.”
Rabada has been key to the quality of that team. What were his chances of playing?
“He came through nicely and bowled well [in the intra-squad game],” Prince said. “He’s not going to be at 100% straightaway but he is looking good. We will make a call as late as possible.”
In his most recent Test against Australia, the WTC final at Lord’s in June last year, Rabada took 5/51 to limit the Aussies’ first innings to 212. South Africa won by five wickets inside four days to claim their first senior global trophy since 1998. Prince said that, and – in November last year – their first Test series win in the six they played in India since February 2000, had revitalised the dressing room.
“Everybody wants to be a part of T20 and the perks and financial rewards it brings, and that’s fair enough. But with the WTC success and continuing on a good run since then, there’s an appetite for players to want to be involved with the Test squad.”
That Australia were South Africa’s opponents in the final only made their triumph sweeter. The teams share a tempestuous tango of a history, which was never proved more true than during Australia’s previous Test series in South Africa in March 2018. Poor behaviour on both sides of the boundary by players and spectators alike culminated in the Australians being caught on camera rubbing sandpaper on the ball during the Newlands Test. Heads rolled.
Prince made his debut against Australia at the Wanderers in February 2022. Adam Gilchrist’s 213-ball 204 not out, mere centuries by Matthew Hayden and Damien Martyn, and Glenn McGrath’s 5/21 in the second innings launched Australia to victory by an innings and 360 runs in three days.
But Prince, batting at No. 3, gutsed it out for almost two-and-a-half hours for his 49 in a first innings of 159 and for more than an hour for his 28 in a second dig of 133.
The die was cast: Prince had announced himself as a tough nut to crack. That view prevailed long after he played the last of his 66 Tests in December 2011. So much so that an Australian walked into a Hobart bar in November 2016, saw Prince – then a commentator – and boomed: “Ashwell Prince! You were a bad motherf***er!”
“If you can do something against Australia early in your Test career it settles your mind whether you’re able to cut it at that level,” Prince said. “There are other challenges in cricket – going to the subcontinent and playing against spin bowling, for instance. But if you can get a score as a young player or as a new player against Australia it does a lot for your belief and self-confidence.
“Australian cricket is more than just the XI on the field. There’s a mentality to it. They want to be on the front foot with an aggressive style of play.”
As do the South Africans. Thus the rivalry between the sides, Prince said, would survive the fraternising culture engendered by the modern era of franchise cricket, which thrusts players from various countries into the same space and tells them to get along.
“They’re all big buddies. But I can promise you that when a Test match is in the balance those T20 dressing room vibes, where everybody loves each other, go out of the window pretty quickly.”
If you’re going to be near the Kingsmead dressing rooms in the coming days best you beware of flying glass.
