Prince, Pollock climb the rankings
Brad Morgan
18 January 2007
A number of South Africans are making a move up the world cricket rankings after the Proteas won their third test in succession with a seven-wicket win over Pakistan this week following two recent victories over India.
One of the most pleasing aspects of those successes has been the emergence of Ashwell Prince as a solid, reliable presence in the South African middle order. Even in defeat, as happened in the first test against India, the Cape Cobras' left-hander has stood out.
Emergence of Prince
In that match, South Africa was skittled for just 84 in its first innings on a pitch that provided plenty of assistance to the seam bowlers. Prince, though, top scored with 24. In South Africa's second innings of 278 all out, Prince was again the leading run-getter, just missing out on a century in making 97, the next best score being Shaun Pollock's 40.
In the second test in Durban, he was again the cornerstone of
South Africa's first innings, making 121 as the Proteas tallied 328 all out, which gave them a lead of 88 runs over the Indians. Ultimately, the Proteas went on to even the series with a 174-run victory.
South Africa claimed the series honours in Cape Town where Prince, after making 26 in the first innings, added a battling undefeated 38 on a difficult turning pitch in the fourth innings of the match to guide SA to a five-wicket win.
Two of the main things needed to win test cricket matches are the ability to take 20 wickets in a contest, and the ability to put batting partnerships together. At Centurion, in the first test against Pakistan, Prince again played a crucial role in South Africa's seven-wicket win, making 138 in SA's first innings, and sharing in a vital 213-run stand with Herschelle Gibbs.
He wasn't needed in the second innings as South Africa claimed another victory.
Prince's fine form has certainly reflected well in the latest LG ICC test batting
rankings, which see Prince rise to a career-high 11th in the world, just one position behind South Africa's highest ranked batsman, Jacques Kallis.
Cricket South Africa has taken note of his fine performances and rewarded him with an improved contract, moving him from category C to category B until mid-season.
Two other players have also been rewarded with improved contracts until mid-season.
Resurgence of Pollock
Shaun Pollock, it seems, is going through a renaissance. There were some that suggested his international career was drawing to a close a couple of seasons back, but today he is at the frontline of South Africa's cricketing challenge.
Against India, in the one-day international series that South Africa won with overwhelming ease by a four-nil margin, Pollock was the man of the series. He captured 10 wickets at the miserly average of 8.30, conceding a ridiculous average of 2.30 runs per over.
He was also very
effective in the test series, capturing 13 wickets at an average of 16, whilst scoring 187 runs at 31.16. Again, he was named man of the series.
Cricket South Africa responded to Pollock's top-class performances by upgrading his contract from category A to category A+.
Andre Nel
The third player to be awarded an improved contract was fast bowler Andre Nel. In the one-day series against India, in which the South African bowlers dominated the Indian batsmen, Nel was especially good in Durban, knocking over 4 for 13 in eight overs as South Africa blasted the tourists out for just 91.
He was quietly effective in the test series, despite missing the third test, picking up nine wickets at an average of just over 24. More than the pure numbers of his returns, though, Nel has brought to the South African bowling attack an aggression that has also helped other bowlers take wickets.
In many ways he is the opposite of Pollock, whose
nagging accuracy creates such pressure that other bowlers often benefit.
Like Prince, Nel has been moved from a category C to a category B contract.
South Africans in the world rankings
Taking a look at the world cricket rankings: Kallis leads South Africa's batsmen, in 10th place. Prince is in 11th, Graeme Smith in 21st, Herschelle Gibbs in 27th, AB de Villiers in 37th, Shaun Pollock in 45th and Mark Boucher in 51st.
Makhaya Ntini is second in the world bowling rankings, while Pollock comes in at number four, his best ranking in two years. Nel is in 17th spot, Kallis in 25th, Dale Steyn in 36th and Andrew Hall in 51st place.
Kallis is ranked the number one all-rounder in the game, with Pollock in third place.
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