Time for Smith, Clarke to shine

Times Media - March 1 2014

TELFORD VICE, Cape Town

Graeme Smith and Michael Clarke are quality batsmen, but they have been conspicuous by their absence as major players in the test series between SA and Australia.

In three and two innings respectively, Vernon Philander and Quinton de Kock have scored more runs than Smith in his four trips to the crease. Mitchell Johnson, meanwhile, tops Clarke on the list of Australian runscorers.

Smith has gone seven innings without scoring a half-century. Clarke hasn’t reached 50 in his last 11 attempts.

The series decider, which starts at Newlands today, would be a good time for Smith and Clarke to issue reminders about why they are among the most respected players in the game.

Batsmen drew the short straw in the first test in Centurion, where variable bounce helped Mitchell Johnson take 12/127 to bowl Australia to victory by 281 runs.

In the second test at St George’s Park, where a devastating spell of reverse swing by Dale Steyn clinched SA’s 231-run win on the fourth afternoon, a slow surface demanded application and inhibited strokeplay.

Both Smith and Clarke have built their batting careers by dominating attacks. Newlands, home to the pitch that provides for the fairest contest between bat and ball in SA, is unlikely to inhibit their ability to add to that reputation.

“Anytime you’re not leading from the front as captain, it’s disappointing,” Clarke said yesterday. “My first job as captain is to score runs. That’s the Australian way.”

Smith seemed to feel the pressure less than his counterpart: “I feel like I’ve been batting well all season, I’ve ticked all the boxes.” He added that “off the field, it’s been challenging” - a reference to an accident involving his daughter, Cadence, this week.

Team management would not comment on the nature of the accident, but indicated the child was on the mend by saying Smith did not have family stress hanging over him going into the match.

More reluctance to comment came from Smith and Clarke over David Warner’s suggestion that the South Africans had resorted to dubious ball-management tactics to generate reverse swing in the second test. Then, of course, they commented.

“He’s becoming a bit of a rent-a-quote but at the moment my focus is on getting us prepared,” Smith said. “My thoughts are pretty strong and I’ll probably say something towards the end of this test match.”

Although he was adamant that he would “back all my players 100 percent on the field” Clarke said he had “made it very clear to David how disappointed I was and am, and at the appropriate time I’ll catch up with Graeme and make it clear to him how I feel about it”.

Days of sun and wind should present the captains with a dry pitch at the toss this morning. SA are expected to include Alviro Petersen, who missed the second test with a virus, and Rory Kleinveldt.

Dean Elgar, who replaced Petersen at the top of the order in Port Elizabeth, is likely to be moved to the middle order at the expense of Quinton de Kock. Kleinveldt could come in for Wayne Parnell, who has been ruled out with a groin injury.

The Australians seem set on dropping No. 3 Alex Doolan and slotting Shane Watson into their middle order. Watson missed the first two tests with a calf injury.