Cricket
Barnes: SA bowlers were rusty
2009-03-16 22:24
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By Altus Momberg - Die BurgerCape Town - Dale Steyn bowled on his own at Newlands during the weekend in an effort to regain his best form.
The Proteas’ main bowling threat worked hard with South African assistant coach Vincent Barnes on Friday and Saturday.
Steyn has not yet fired on all cylinders in the current series against Australia. The Proteas will need him at his best.
There was plenty of assistance for the bowlers in the first two Tests in Johannesburg and Durban but it appears as if the Newlands pitch won’t be as kind to the pacemen.
The third and final Test starts on Thursday with the Proteas keen to regain lost pride after losing the first two Tests.
Steyn took nine wickets in the first two Tests, but the rest of the Protea attack did not achieve the same success against Australia.
Barnes said the bowlers’ lack of patience was one of the main reasons for their struggles.
“To bowl well does not necessarily mean you have to take a wicket with every delivery. There are times in every game that you simply try to pile on the pressure and ensure that the runs dry up, and get your wicket in such a manner. We did not do that enough,” he said.
“We also did not bowl well enough as a unit. It does not help if the bowlers don’t complement one another out in the middle.”
Barnes also admitted that the bowlers were a little rusty before the first Test after resting for a month following the series victory in Australia.
The bowlers’ struggles in the first two Tests cost Morné Morkel his place in the squad and chances are good that his older brother, Albie, will take his place.
Two of the Proteas’ other bowlers – Makhaya Ntini and Paul Harris – played in the SuperSport game between the Warriors and Titans in Centurion. They didn't have much success because they played on a tamed pitch, which proved to be a batting paradise. Ashwell Prince (Warriors) and Heino Kuhn (Titans) both struck double centuries.