The South African fast bowlers – Terror for the visiting batsmen

The pace battery of South Africa has made a habit of humiliating the touring teams by crushing them to their low scores in a Test innings since the last two years.

The batting power houses of Australia, New Zealand and most recently, Pakistan have suffered by the devastating fast bowling of Proteas on their visit to South Africa. The rapid bowling trio of Dale Steyn, Vernon Philander and Morne Morkel made life difficult for the visitors and has achieved marvellous victories for the home side. The above three visiting teams have almost touched one of their lowest innings totals and that has resulted in losing the matches against the hosts as well.

Below, we will highlight the performance of the batsmen of Australia, New Zealand and Pakistan against South Africa when the tourists were dismissed cheaply.

South Africa vs. Australia 1^st Test played on November 9, 10 and 11, 2011, at Newlands, Cape Town.

Scores

Australia first innings – 284 (Michael Clarke 151, Shaun Marsh 44, Dale Steyn 4-55, Vernon Philander 3-63 and Morne Morkel 3-82)

South Africa first innings – 96 (Graeme Smith 37, Jacques Rudolph 18, Shane Watson 5-17 and Ryan Harris 4-33)

Australia second innings – 47 (Nathan Lyon 14, Peter Siddle 12*, Philander 5-15, Morne Morkel 3-9 and Dale Steyn 2-23)

South Africa second innings – 2-236 (Hashim Amla 112, Graeme Smith 101*, Peter Siddle 1-49)

Player of the match – Vernon Philander (South Africa)

Result – South Africa won by eight wickets.

South Africa vs. New Zealand 1^st Test played on January 2, 3 and 4, 2013, at Newlands, Cape Town.

Scores

New Zealand first innings – 45 (Kane Williamson 13, Brendon McCullum 7, Vernon Philander 5-7, Morne Morkel 3-14, Dale Steyn 2-18)

South Africa first innings – 8-347 declared (Alviro Petersen 106, AB de Villiers 67, Hashim Amla 66, Jacques Kallis 60, Chris Martin 3-63, Trent Boult 3-78)

New Zealand second innings – 275 (Dean Brownlie 109, Brendon McCullum 51, Steyn 3-67, Philander 2-76, Morkel 1-50)

Player of the match – Vernon Philander (South Africa)

Result – South Africa won the game by an innings and 27 runs.

South Africa vs. Pakistan 1^st Test played at New Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg, on February 1, 2, 3 and 4, 2013.

Scores

South Africa first innings – 253 (Jacques Kallis 50, Faf du Plessis 41, Hashim Amla 37, Mohammad Hafeez 4-16, Junaid Khan 2-33, Umar Gul 2-56)

Pakistan first innings – 49 (Azhar Ali 13, Misbah-ul-Haq 12, Dale Steyn 6-8, Jacques Kallis 2-11, Vernon Philander 2-16)

South Africa second innings – 3-275 declared (AB de Villiers 103*, Hashim Amla 74*, Graeme Smith 52, Umar Gul 2-58)

Pakistan second innings – 268 (Misbah-ul-Haq 64, Asad Shafiq 56, Nasir Jamshed 46, Steyn 5-52, Philander 2-60, Morkel 2-89)

Player of the match – Dale Steyn (South Africa)

Result – South Africa won by 211 runs.

South Africa has disgraced Australia and New Zealand recently at Newlands, Cape Town and Pakistan will be playing their second Test at the same venue from February 14, 2013. The hosts will once again anticipate dismissing the Pakistani batsmen for another low score and Pakistan should make plans on how to negotiate the lethal fast bowling trio of Dale Steyn, Vernon Philander and Morne Morkel.