Proteas batsman Aiden Markram

Proteas batsman Aiden Markram made a ton on Tuesday. Image: CSA/Twitter

Proteas: New dawn but same old, same old

Fans of the Proteas may have gotten a little carried away before normality resumed during the first Test against the West Indies.

Proteas batsman Aiden Markram

Proteas batsman Aiden Markram made a ton on Tuesday. Image: CSA/Twitter

Fans of the Proteas may have gotten a little carried away before normality resumed during the first Test against the West Indies.

It was easily one of the most low-key build ups to a home Test series and one wonders why?

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Protea fans sparse in Pretoria

The recent success of the SA20 was backed up by a stellar run by the Proteas Women in the T20 World Cup. And key to both was the noticeable crowd attendance figures.

It appeared that cricket lovers in the country were coming out of their hiding places and that the good times were here to stay.

But why then was there so little interest leading up to the first ball on Tuesday at Centurion?

Perhaps because the organisers did little for the fans in starting the game in the middle of the week. And now there is every chance no action will be played on the weekend after day one.

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The Proteas of 2023 were supposed to be a new team. There was a new coach. A new coaching unit. And a new captain. There were two new debutants and a bunch of recalls.

Old guard perform well

And after winning the toss and choosing to bat, it was pleasing to see that the old Aiden Markram was back as was the old Dean Elgar.

The pair saw off the new ball and then some as they motored past the 100 mark. Elgar eventually departed for 71 with the score at 141.

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De Zorzi arrived and the runs continued to flow with Markram signalling his return to the team with a century.

The pair though got themselves in a muddle which resulted in the debutant being run out. Yes, in a Test match. Sound familiar?

And then captain Temba Bavuma was caught leg before for a second ball duck.

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The score quickly went from 220-1 to 300-8. Just another regular Proteas collapse.

The end of day score of 314-8 might look good on paper but the reality is clear, the Proteas have a lot of work to do to ensure they convince fans that it’s not just the same old Proteas albeit with a few new faces.

Tony de Zorzi on debut for the Proteas Gallo
Tony de Zorzi made is debut for the Proteas. Photo: Gallo Images.

They squandered the chance to make a huge first innings score. But after a long period without getting anywhere near the 300 mark, you could forgive those die-hard fans for at least enjoying the silver lining of day one.

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