WTC final: Decision to pick Lungi Ngidi over Dane Paterson is baffling
BAFFLING DECISION Controversy surrounded South Africa's WTC final match XI as Lungi Ngidi was chosen over in-form Dane Paterson, sparking debate over selection strategy. Picture: Marco Longari/AFP
Image: Marco Longari / AFP
I just can’t understand how Dane Paterson wasn’t selected in the starting XI for South Africa for the World Test Championship cricket final against Australia starting at Lord’s on Wednesday.
I found it really strange that Proteas coach Shukri Conrad has gone for Lungi Ngidi instead of Patterson.
Ngidi has played no first-class cricket in the last few months except the two overs he bowled in the warm-up match against Zimbabwe last week.
In fact, Ngidi’s last first-class match was SA’s Test match against the West Indies in Port of Spain in August last year.
Paterson’s Omission from the Proteas Squad Raises Questions
Patterson, meanwhile, has played six county games for Middlesex, three at Lord’s in April and May alone. Given the conditions they’re likely to encounter at Lord’s over the five days, I would have thought that Patterson would’ve been the perfect bowler to pick in these conditions. He swings the ball beautifully, and he can really hold up an end if needed.
Paterson would be the perfect foil with Kagiso Rabada or Marco Jansen at the other end.
The only other bowler in the attack who could also swing it as much as Paterson, would be all-rounder Wiaan Mulder. But with Mulder listed to bat at number three, the plan might be to play less of a role with the ball.
I’m just hoping that Proteas coach Shukri Conrad has seen something from Ngidi in the nets that we don’t know about, and I’d be quite happy to be dead wrong if the big man played a starring role in leading SA to WTC glory.
But, in my opinion, I just don’t see that happening.
So for me, the omission of Paterson just doesn’t make sense.
* The views expressed are not necessarily the views of IOL or Independent Media.
** JOIN THE CONVERSATION: Send us an email with your comments, thoughts or responses to iolletters@inl.co.za. Letters should be a maximum of 500 words, and may be edited for length. Anonymous correspondence will not be published. Submissions should include a contact number and physical address (not for publication).