Dean Elgar will be the Proteas batter with the biggest target on his back if former Kiwi captain Ken Rutherford had his way.
Rutherford believes New Zealand should covet the SA captain's wicket most when their two-Test series starts at Hagley Oval in Christchurch on Thursday.
He contends the SA innings will take shape around Elgar and that the Black Caps will do well to neutralise him early.
“If I was Tom Latham (NZ captain) looking ahead to these Tests, you might talk about (Kagiso) Rabada and some of the other highly talented players in the South African team but I think the captain is the guy I would be targeting. He is the one guy who is so key to their fortunes,” said Rutherford.
Rutherford, who spent several seasons in SA as captain of Gauteng, said Elgar reminds him of compatriot John Wright, a nuggety opener from the 1980s and 90s. “They are very similar in terms of the way they play. They will probably both admit that they weren't over endowed with natural ability but they would probably both begrudgingly admit that they try hard, they're really determined and that they place a high price on their wicket,” explained Rutherford.
Role model
He said Elgar is a terrific role model for South African cricket. “He is a helluva player and like Wright he knows his strengths. He showed so much heart in winning those Tests for SA. As far as his captaincy is concerned, I've got no issues. They come off some good series wins,” said Rutherford about the Proteas' series win over India and previously over the West Indies.
As much as SA will look to their skipper to stand firm, New Zealand will have to soldier on without their talismanic captain Kane Williamson, who is still recovering from elbow surgery. They also have to absorb the loss of the vastly experienced Ross Taylor, who has retired from Test cricket.
While Taylor's career had been tailing off, Williamson's continued absence is a significant loss for the Kiwis. Rutherford said he has a few “slight question marks” about the team, especially with bowler Trent Boult also unavailable. “There is no doubt it diminishes the Kiwis a bit,” conceded the former captain.
Considerable absence
“Williamson is the big one. He is top two, three in the world. It is hard to put into words what he means to New Zealand cricket. He is the Richie McCaw of New Zealand cricket, isn't he? Maybe even more than McCaw, maybe a Colin Meads. You can't afford to lose any of that significance,” said Rutherford.
He ran the rule over the Kiwi batters that will feature. “Tom Latham has done an incredible job and I think Will Young is an outstanding player. Henry Nichols' record is very good.
"And the boy from Johannesburg, my God!He's one of the best now. He's incomparable; my goodness,” he cooed about Devon Conway. “He is something special. In five, seven years' time we are to look back and say he's been one of the best players in the world in all three forms of the game."
Ironically, added Rutherford, he could be the difference. "Without Kane, New Zealand will be relying a lot on Conway,” he said about a player who has scored three centuries and two fifties in his first five Tests. Conway averages 69.
Special talent
“He's a special player. I think batting-wise the Kiwis will be OK,” predicted Rutherford.
He concedes, though, batting could be hazardous on Hagley Oval's perennial green top.
Rutherford argued Lungi Ngidi is the Proteas' bowler who potentially holds the most peril. “It might be about the 130km/h bowlers. Ngidi, if he hits a length, can swing it a bit. He could ask more questions than Rabada or (Duanne) Olivier.
“I watched Bangladesh play there a month ago or so. The wicket was emerald green but it hardly seamed. It was quicker and it bounced a bit but there was very little sideways movement. It only went sideways later in the game when the ball started hitting divots. It is a bit of a misnomer to say it will go all over the place on the first day because [it] doesn't always.”
Stop spurning spin
Though he expects a green top, Rutherford is an enduring proponent of spin. “As the captain of a cricket team, I want balance. Maybe I'm a bit of a dinosaur. I'd always want a spinner. It may be a cliché in the game, but if you have three seamers who can't do the job for you then the fourth is unlikely to do so.”
Rutherford said, given the conditions, the series will be decided by the batters. “It will come down to the team with the best performing top six. It will be intriguing.”
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