Captain Dean Elgar lauded his fast bowlers for their performance at Lord’s and said his team was prepared for a strong England response at Old Trafford in the second Test after its innings defeat.
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South Africa needed only 82.4 overs to take England’s 20 wickets as it beat the host by an innings and 12 runs in the first Test at Lord’s, with the majority of the damage done by the pace quartet of Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Lungi Ngidi and Marco Jansen.
“I reckon they can get much better, they’re still pretty fresh,” Elgar told reporters on Wednesday.
South Africa’s Lutho Sipamla bowls during a practice session on Wednesday. | Photo Credit: JASON CAIRNDUFF
“The wicket assisted them at Lord’s, we must take that into account, but you have to put the ball in the right areas and they did that. Our bowlers are leading our pack at the moment and they’re extremely hungry for success. The competition among them is brilliant and the way they go about things is the most professional behaviour I’ve seen from fast bowlers.”
Elgar suggested the tourists would likely retain the same XI for the second Test, with only spinner Simon Harmer a potential addition to the side. There is no obvious candidate for him to replace as Keshav Maharaj also bowled well at Lord’s.
“We have our 12, the same as the first Test and we decide on the day. Everyone is down to play and on the day you will be told if you are or not, which creates that sense of not taking the foot off the gas,” Elgar said.
He also admitted that his team expects a much-improved home team in the second Test with the three-match series on the line. “I hope the second Test goes the same way but we know England are hurt and they will fight back with a vengeance.”
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