FazBracken brilliant as Proteas head South
January 19th 2009 00:28
With a South African batting line-up that features some of the best players in world cricket, chasing 250 against the Australians at Hobart should have been one of the more reasonable targets to easily achieve.
Considering the Proteas chased down 272 at the MCG last Friday, South Africa really should have defeated the Aussies yesterday in a canter.
There were two problems however that threw the South Africans off course big-time - Nathan Bracken's bowling and Albie Morkel's position in the batting line-up.
Bracken is by far the most influential one day bowler in the game of Cricket and is a mighty ally for Ricky Ponting when things get tough.
When South Africa chose to use their power play in the 44th over of yesterday's innings, Bracken came to the fore and produced his usual flawless spell to frustrate the hell out of the Proteas batsmen.
Bracken's ability to consistently hit the right length made him the match winner against a South African side that left their run too late.
Against a bowler with the world class ability of Bracken, one can ill afford to stay behind the 8 ball when chasing a total under any circumstances.
Indeed Bracken made South Africa's batting line-up squeal in despair as he bowled deliveries that were almost impossible to hit to the boundary.
In the end, he was the key difference in allowing Australia to defend a modest total that the Proteas should have chased down.
Although Bracken was the saviour for the Aussies, the one batsman that did cause him a lot of problems was Albie Morkel.
Morkel is one of the few batsmen to hit boundaries off the premier fast bowler in one day Cricket.
The power and flair he possesses with the bat should allow him to bat higher up the order for the South Africans.
One suggests that he should even bat at no.3 or 4, considering players like JP Duminy and Neil McKenzie lack the power to hit consistent boundaries.
If Morkel were to bat higher up the order, one feels that South Africa could chase down modest totals in a flash, let alone with just three balls to spare.
For the Proteas to win in Sydney this Friday, Morkel needs to be moved up the order if they are any chance of unsettling the best bowler in one day Cricket in Bracken.
If Bracken is unsettled, Australia's other bowlers will also feel the pinch.
But as long as the Proteas fail to recognise Morkel as a genuine batsman, Bracken will tear them apart.
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