Player Ratings : SA
Wednesday, December 17 2003
First Test, the New Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg.
GC Smith - Batted aggressively and with good success in both innings but avoids getting a perfect score due to his rather bemusing tactics in the field, especially concering Robin Peterson. Still, a century and a 189-run win in his first Test as captain on home soil earns him an excellent grade.
Cricket Web Rating : 9/10
HH Gibbs - Did very little wrong in this game, batting superbly in the first innings and fielding well as usual. Gibbs loses a point for his predominantly defensive approach in his brief stay at the crease in the second innings, when he should really have been attacking more.
Cricket Web Rating : 8/10
JA Rudolph - Rudolph managed to scrape a pass mark only due to his late burst of quick runs in the second innings. For the most part, he looked tentative and in poor form, contribute 2 in the first innings before his second innings' 44.
Cricket Web Rating : 5/10
JH Kallis - I'm not sure it's possible to play better than Kallis did in the first Test. 158 and 44 with the bat and some outstanding, et largely unsuccessful seam bowling as well. Kallis gets himself on par with his captain.
Cricket Web Rating : 9/10
M van Jaarsveld - In limited opportunity, van Jaarsveld had not found good form in his international career before this game. Kirsten sat out and van Jaarsveld stepped in more than adequately, looking a real find for the South Africans.
Cricket Web Rating : 8/10
ND McKenzie - Got a bad decision in the first and never reall got a chance to show much.
Cricket Web Rating : 4/10
MV Boucher - Due to Ntini's occasional waywardness, Boucher assumed a few unavoidable byes, but was overall solid with the gloves and looked good in his limited time at the crease.
Cricket Web Rating : 7.5/10
SM Pollock - What more can be said about this truly great cricketer? Pollock batted with typical ease for scores of 30 and 10, but it is with the ball that he really shone. The former South African captain took 4/31 to hurry the West Indians to defeat. However, a rather so-so first innings effort and a dropped catch off Lara when on 15 (went on to 202) count against him.
Cricket Web Rating : 6/10
RJ Peterson - Not a very game for Peterson. He batted well and played a couple of outstanding shots, but his bowling was less dangerous than Sarwan's. This was epitomized by him surrendering a record 28 runs in an over to Lara - 4,6,6,4,4,4
Cricket Web Rating : 2/10
A Nel - Nel got in some trouble due to taunts aimed at the West Indian players, but bowled well. However, he was a bit short at times, allowing the West Indians to leave alone a bit too much.
Cricket Web Rating : 7/10
M Ntini - Undoubtedly the star of the game. On a flat batting wicket, Ntini higher quality bolwing in the last session on day four than all the bowlers combined for in the rest of the game. Ntini took 3/12 in that session and grabbed 9 wickets in the match.
Cricket Web Rating : 9.5/10
Posted by Liam
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