Clarke gives SA bowlers ammunition

Times Media - February 1, 2014

TELFORD VICE, Johannesburg

Michael Clarke doesn’t often say things he could regret, but he did yesterday. Although conceding that he was “a little bit biased” the Australian captain’s assertion at a press conference in Potchefstroom that, “in my opinion, this Australian attack is the best in the world” ripped through SA like Dale Steyn’s away swinger through a batsman’s best defences.

Clarke apparently felt so confident about his view that he repeated it: “What I’ve seen from the Australian fast bowlers over a long period of time, I feel we have the best attack in the world.”

He did, however, spare a thought for the opposition: “Statistically the South African attack is unbelievable. They love their own conditions and they’ve had a lot of success here. They’re going to be extremely tough to face.”

Too little, too late, skipper. There are several yorkers and bouncers South Africans could bowl at Clarke’s argument. For a start, SA’s new-ball pair, Vernon Philander and Steyn are, in that order, the best two bowlers in the game. And that’s official: no opinion required.

Here’s another rebuttal: Wayne Parnell. As in, “Excuse me, Mr Clarke, but how much do you know about this lively left-arm kid from the Eastern Cape? And can you tell us what he would bring to SA’s attack?”

In fact, Clarke should know enough about Parnell to understand the threat he would pose if he was named in the XI for the first test in Centurion on February 12.

Parnell has, in the course of his 60 tests, one-day internationals and T20s, claimed eight Australian wickets. The only Aussie he has dismissed twice is Clarke - once bowled by a 143 km/h missile in a T20, the other leg-before in the same ODI in which Parnell removed Ricky Ponting and Michael Hussey on his way to figures of 4/25.

But Parnell has yet to play a test against Australia, and he may not do so this time. He is in competition with Ryan McLaren for the allrounder’s berth vacated by Jacques Kallis in December. Actually, he is in competition for half that job - Faf du Plessis has already secured the No. 4 batting spot. Whether McLaren or Parnell crack the nod, they are likely to bat at No. 7 and operate as the fourth seamer.

If SA want to replace Kallis with a reasonable facsimile of the most consistent player of the age, McLaren is their man. But if they want to add spice to their attack, Parnell must crack the nod.

Of course, if Parnell was more consistent we wouldn’t be having this discussion.

“That’s the reason he hasn’t been part of the national set-up,” Vincent Barnes, SA’s high performance manager and the Proteas’ former bowling coach said yesterday. “He’s worked very hard at it, but he has only played one first-class match this season.”

Barnes hasn’t liked much of what he has seen from Parnell in action for the Warriors in T20 action this season.

“There has been far too much emphasis on bowling as fast as possible at the expense of swing and control.

“He’s running in way too quickly and his wrist position isn’t good. It looks impressive when the speed gun says 147 km/h, but not when you go for 27 in three overs.”

Barnes said he had been in contact with Warriors coach Piet Botha about Parnell, and had seen improvement in his recent performances. He took 3/27 against the Dolphins at Kingsmead on Sunday.

Going into yesterday’s matches, Parnell was joint ninth among wicket-takers, 43rd on the list of best economy rates, and 16th in terms of strike rate.

But, should Russell Domingo decide to opt for spice instead of consistency in Centurion 10 days from now, Parnell’s number would be up.

If that happens, Clarke, already twice Parnell’s victim, might have to revise his opinion.