SA start their three-Test series against India at Centurion next week without spectators and with lingering questions over the suitability of coach Mark Boucher for a position he’s held for exactly two years.
Boucher and the country’s director of cricket Graeme Smith, nicknamed Biff, were last week named in the Social Justice and National Building Project (SJN) report as having had procedural flaws in their appointments in 2019.
However, a high-ranking cricket insider, who did not want to be named, warned that even if the appointment of Smith and Boucher had procedural shortcomings, dislodging them will be difficult.
“To remove people from their jobs after the fact is going to be very difficult. Labour laws provide that protection for employees. I think their lawyers will be quite keen to get involved.”
He also cautioned that attempts to force out Boucher, who was hastily appointed until 2023 with England's tour looming two years ago, may have unintended consequences.
“If there are procedural issues with his appointment then the same would apply for some of the other members of the coaching staff.”
Even if there were a high probability of the appointments being reversed from a legal perspective, it will still require sufficient political will from within the ranks of CSA. “The board’s political will is based on what is good for them,” the insider said.
The irony is the prelude to India’s arrival in the country this week is not dissimilar to uncertainty that preceded England’s visit here two years ago.
India’s tour was confirmed at the 11th hour and was pushed back by a week as additional protocols were put in place to mitigate the threat of Covid-19.
Spectators will not be allowed as the government tries to contain the spread of the virus, which will be a blow to the Proteas who have a commanding record at Centurion.
They will however draw comfort playing in conditions which have seen them lose just two of the 26 Tests played there. Only three Tests at Centurion have resulted in draws.
Curiously, in the last 14 Tests played at the ground a successful fourth innings chase was mounted just once. Despite the almost constant threat of thunderstorms one Test ended in a draw in that period, in extending back to 2007.
Spectators will not be allowed as the government tries to contain the spread of the virus
With the ball to hold sway, SA will face some teasing, though not entirely unwelcome, questions about who to unleash against Virat Kohli’s team.
There has been much talk about the composition of the bowling unit, in particular the identity of the third seamer behind Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortjé. The former has already cemented his place in the pantheon of great SA fast bowlers, while the latter’s credentials have soared over the past year.
In the last 12 months, including the last Boxing Day Test against Sri Lanka, Nortje bagged 28 wickets, by far the most in the team.
Though Lungi Ngidi with 17 has grabbed the second most, Duanne Olivier’s return to the SA mix has intensified competition for starting positions. Olivier, whose Kolpak days are now numbered, has racked up impressive figures. His 28 wickets from his first four domestic four-day matches this season have made him hard to ignore.
“They've both played 10 Tests. Olivier's taken 48 wickets and Lungi 32,” said fiery former SA fast bowler Steven Jack.
If he got to cast a vote he'd go for Olivier but was quick to say Ngidi “has done nothing wrong”.
“Is there a loyalty issue there?” he wondered about Olivier's decision to quit the Proteas set-up two years ago.
He believes, however, Olivier has a wider skill set. “If he can find a consistent length and mix that up with the odd bouncer he’s very effective. He also gets late swing. With him it is not just about pace.
“Lungi is a bit of a banger. He is better when the wicket holds up a little bit,” Jack observed.
As for the rest of the bowling unit he contends Keshav Maharaj is unchallenged as spinner, while he has a firm view on who should be the all-rounder.
“I’d have Wiaan Mulder as the fourth seamer. He is a quality cricketer. He swings the ball,” he said about the all-rounder who has taken his 14 Test wickets at just 21 apiece.
While Jack does not have many concerns about the bowling unit, he is not as sanguine about the batsmen given their relative inactivity against the red ball.
“I'm not sure what line-up they’ll go for,” said Jack.
SA's last Test was against the West Indies in June, while some of their frontline batters were not required to take part at the start of the domestic four-day competition.
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