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Cape Town - Former Proteas batsman Daryll Cullinan says the current series between India and South Africa should be the final opportunity for JP Duminy to prove his worth in Test cricket.
READ: Why is AB hiding at No 5? - Cullinan
In an interview with the Times of India, Cullinan was critical of South Africa’s performance with the bat thus far in the four-Test series, which they trail 1-0 after two matches.
According to Cullinan, the SA batting line-up appears to fear the Indian spinners.
Cullinan also feels the world’s No 1 Test batsman, AB de Villiers, should bat higher up the order and says the pressure is on Hashim Amla, Faf du Plessis and Duminy to start scoring runs to take pressure off De Villiers.
"Du Plessis is not in form, so he should bat at No 5. There's no harm in playing (Temba) Bavuma at No 6 because he is a good player of spin,” said Cullinan, who scored 4 554 runs at an average of 44.21 in 70 Tests for South Africa.
“Duminy, if he doesn't get runs now, his Test career is over. Duminy is a huge disappointment in Test cricket. If he doesn't score in the next two Tests, he must go. He plays because he can bowl a bit. But you need to support your top three batsmen.”
The 31-year-old Duminy has scored 1 295 runs at an average of 35 in 30 Tests, while he has also taken 35 wickets at 37.42.
The third Test starts in Nagpur on Wednesday, with the final one scheduled for Delhi on December 3.
