Boland stakes claim, Green timeline firms as Proteas prepare to unleash ‘Rolls Royce’ in 2nd Test

Cameron Green has returned to the nets in Gqeberha, while Scott Boland gave Josh Inglis a searching session as Australia prepares for the second Test against South Africa beginning on Sunday.

But as the Proteas prepare to unleash star bowler Kagiso Rabada, the questions around Green and Inglis suggest it is more than likely the Baggy Greens will field an unchanged side at St George’s Park after the stirring start to the series in Durban. Unless, that is, they opt to rotate their bowling ranks, with star reserve Boland appearing more than ready to go in an eye-catching nets performance on Thursday.

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Green suffered an abdominal injury late last month against South Africa when struck in the stomach by a full toss, while Inglis fractured a finger against Zimbabwe in a white ball series earlier in September.

The fact that Green is in the nets is a step forward and suggests the Western Australian is more likely to return for the Cape Town Test, while Inglis spent more time batting against Australia’s premier quick bowlers in an indication of his fitness.

“(Green) is here today. I am not sure of his program. But he will be hitting over the next week,” Australian assistant coach Matthew Wade said.

“I think maybe he is more likely for the third Test but he is starting to get moving, which is a positive sign.”

While Durban presented as a classic Test wicket, the Australians are still assessing what the pitch will present in Gqeberha, which was formerly known as Port Elizabeth.

Wade only played one day matches in the coastal city, but said that during the day, the pitch tended to slow and was more conducive to spin.

The weather is more likely to be a factor in the second Test, with heavy rain predicted for the opening day of the match on Sunday.

The Australians waited until the morning of the match to confirm an XI in Durban and the same is likely in Gqeberha.

Australia’s premium pace battery was on song in Durban, but the world’s best reserve bowler served a reminder of his talents in a searching session at St George’s Park on Thursday.

Victorian veteran Scott Boland is ranked the ninth best Test bowler in the world but served as the 12th man in the first Test given the rude state of health the Australians are in when it comes to the bowling attack.

Those who watched him bowl last Tuesday ahead of the Kingsmead Stadium Test have no doubt he would have proven a handful for the Proteas, with Boland bordering on unplayable in the nets.

Inglis, who is seeking to prove his fitness, would no doubt agree based on the test before the Test he experienced in Gqeberha.

With Victorian wicketkeeper Sam Harper behind the stumps, Boland put the reserve batsman through his paces and had the upper hand.

He knocked his stumps over on one occasion, snared him when edging on another, with a nets watcher reporting that Inglis tried to charge him and smash Boland back over his head, only to be deceived again.

South African coach Shukri Conrad, meanwhile, had a simple message for the Proteas after they were comprehensively beaten by Australia in Durban.

The Proteas, he said, “need to get bloody better” when assessing their 214-run defeat after conceding a dominant position on the first day and captain Temba Bavuma set the tone when the last South African batter to leave the nets.

“We lost a cricket match. It doesn’t mean that you’ve now got to go soul-searching and questioning all the things that we’ve done really well and are doing really well. We just need to get bloody better,” Conrad told the South African press pack at Kingsmead Stadium.

What will help their position is the sight of Rabada, who looked in good shape when bowling a couple of overs on Thursday morning in Gqeberha.

The superstar fast bowler, who has taken 340 wickets in 73 matches at an average of 22.03, addressed teammates alongside Proteas captain Temba Bavuma preceding the session at St George’s Park in the coastal city formerly known as Port Elizabeth.

Rabada has an even better average against Australia, having secured 58 wickets in 11 Tests at an average of 21.39, and brings an added flavour of competitiveness to the scene, as anyone who witnessed the 2018 series will remember.

Former South African captain Dean Elgar told The Follow On last month that the sight of Australians drives Rabada “to get out of bed” and produce his best and Conrad said the 31-year-old’s absence in the first Test had an impact.

Rabada badly injury a hamstring in August and there were fears he would not be able to play in the series, but he has worked diligently in rehabilitation in order to play against Australia.

Provided the next couple of days goes well, he is likely to be among at least three changes to the Proteas XI after South African selectors dropped Tristan Stubbs after a second innings failure, with Matthew Breetzke brought into the squad.

He has played a couple of Tests and has a first-class average of 37.03, but scored an ODI century against Australia in Durban last month and the Proteas believe he is capable of becoming a multi-format star.

South Africa will also switch wicketkeepers, with Ryan Rickelton replacing Kyle Verreyne, who is likely to drop out of the XI as a result.

His added responsibility poses another selection query for South Africa, who are weighing up whether to drop him down the order from his opening role.

But the Proteas are buoyed by the likely return of Rabada and believe the changes will help them stay alive in the series. In Australia’s last tour back in 2018, South African lost the first Test in Durban before turning the infamous series their way from the second Test onwards.

“It’s going to sound like an excuse, but when your Rolls-Royce of fast bowlers is not available and you have got to fashion an attack …” Conrad said before trailing off.

“We obviously need to look at how we can improve the side without being kneejerk in our decision making and panicky. We need to show composure.

“The questions is always, ‘Will it make the boat go faster if we make changes? Or will it slow the boat down?’ And we are constantly looking at how we can make the boat go faster.”

Wade did not have to face Rabada regularly in the latter stages of his career but has worked with him in the IPL and said the South Africans will clearly benefit from his presence.

“I think the thing that stands out for him is his competitiveness,” he said.

“With him coming back in, it gives them great versatility. They went with two spinners last time but they can go with him and (Anrich) Nortje and basically take one quick spot and bowl short spells and really attack us hard if they want to.

“They have got great depth in their squad and it is going to be a challenge in every single Test match to get on top of their squad but thankfully we found a way in the first Test, but we are under no illusions it is going to be a challenge.”