Former Proteas coach predicts batting will decide WTC final
KEY ROLE Former Proteas coach Justin Sammons predicts that the World Test Championship final between South Africa and Australia will be decided by the batting lineups led by senior batsmen Temba Bavuma and Aiden Markram, since both teams having strong bowling attacks. Picture: Rodger Bosch / AFP
Both sides were well-matched on the bowling front, and the difference would be in the batting lineups, believed Sammons. It will therefore be up to senior batsmen like Aiden Markram and skipper Temba Bavuma to set the tone.
The strength of both South Africa and Australia will be their bowling attacks in the World Test Championship final starting at Lord's on Wednesday. First ball is at 11.30 am SA time.
Proteas Face Batting Challenges in WTC Final
'I think it's two very well-balanced sides. They are evenly matched, and I think it's going to be a great final because of it. Ultimately, the strength of both teams lies within their bowling attacks,' Sammons told SportBoom.co.za.
"They are two extremely strong attacks, and it's going to come down to whichever batting lineup is able to fare best against those attacks.'
In the Proteas team, there are a number of players who have not played the longest format for some time, like Ngidi, who has not played red-ball cricket since August last year.
The adjustment for the squad would not be ideal, said Sammons.
"It is obviously one of the biggest challenges for them as they head into this Test final. I always find that it's a lot easier for the guys to go the other way around; to go from Test cricket into white-ball cricket as a batter, it's a lot easier to make those adjustments.'
"It's always a little bit more difficult to go from T20 straight into Test cricket. They've got some time now following our few days in Arundel, and they've got another few days at Lord's, so they'll most certainly touch up on those basics, and I believe they'll be absolutely fine in their ability to adapt."
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