Gibson may change pace policy against Australia

Nasri Alexander
February 26, 2018

South Africa coach Ottis Gibson says the Proteas will be willing to change their policy of selecting four pace bowlers in their Test team for the upcoming series against Australia.

During three-match Test series against India, Gibson said he wanted to play a four-man pace attack as often as possible in the longest format, with a six-five split between batsmen and bowlers.

However, even though they won the India series two-one, there were some concerns that the Proteas were a batsman light especially considering the poor form of wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock, who batted at number six.

Also, the pace tactic was understandable against a team from the subcontinent as they are use to playing on low and slow pitches but Australia will be a different proposition altogether.

What Gibson and the Proteas will not do in the series against the Aussies is request a certain type of surface from the curators across the country after the fiasco in the India Tests.

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The Proteas coach told reporters said: “It is different opposition so therefore the make-up of the team is slightly different.

“We have to get to Durban and see what we get (in terms of the pitch).

“The last time we tried to speak to the groundsman everybody knows what happened at the Wanderers so we left the groundsman to prepare the best possible pitch and we will see what happens after that.”

Gibson is looking forward to working with some senior Proteas members again after trying some new faces in the ODI and T20I series against India.

Captain Faf du Plessis, AB de Villiers, Hashim Amla, Vernon Philander and Morne Morkel are of the names that will return against the Aussies.

Gibson said: “The seniors in any team makes it stronger, especially our guys. Our captain has been a massive loss.

“We are hoping AB’s body is better that it was in the one-dayers, we hope that he is somewhere near 100 per cent.”

The first of four Tests against Australia starts in Durban on Thursday.

By Nasri Alexander