South Africa’s batting star Hashim Amla has admitted the Proteas are in need of a comeback in the ongoing first Test against England at Lord’s.
Morne Morkel made early inroads on day two by dismissing England skipper Joe Root, who started the day on 184, for 190 and Liam Dawson in a space of just three balls to reduce the home side to 367 for seven.
However, any hopes of dismissing the Three Lions inside 400 was soon quashed by Moeen Ali and Stuart Broad’s fifties. Ali scored 87 while Broad remained unbeaten on 57 off just 47 balls, as England finished their innings on 458.
In reply, South Africa went off to a poor start with debutant Heino Kuhn returning to the pavilion after scoring just one. An 81-run stand between stand-in skipper Dean Elgar and Amla steadied the ship. But the Proteas soon found themselves staring down the barrel when Broad and Ali wreaked their top-order to leave them reeling at 104 for four.
Temba Bavuma and Theunis de Bruyn then rescued the visitors with a 99-run partnership before James Anderson broke the promising stand by sending back the latter for 48. South Africa ended the day on 214 for five, still trailing England’s first-innings total by 244 runs, and Amla rightly said that his team is in dire need of a few partnerships to make a comeback.
“We’re in need of a comeback,” Amla said. “We need to get a few partnerships under our belts.”
Amla heaped praise on de Bruyn who was playing just his second Test but showed immense maturity to rescue the team.
“I think everybody in the system knows what a good player he is, and it was a matter of time before he showcases it in international cricket,” Amla said of the 24-year-old. “He batted really well today and looked very assured.
Amla also expressed his excitement on the pool of talent at South Africa’s disposal.
“It’s great signs for us. The future to come for us is him, Temba and Aiden Markram, who is also in the squad. Quinton (de Kock) as well. These are the young guys in the team who need to get the experience to perform. Getting game time on the international stage will only increase their confidence,” said the 33-year old.
South Africa, meanwhile, has a tough task on its hands in the second innings too, as they will have to face an England attack comprising two spinners on a pitch which according to Amla is doing a bit for the tweakers.
“It’s turning a little bit now, so if you go by that, it’s probably going to turn a bit more (as the game goes on),” said Amla. “I don’t think the wicket will speed up – it will probably get a bit slower but it will turn. I think it will get more and more difficult to bat against the spinners.”