Alviro Petersen warns Proteas: Australia a different kettle of fish in Lord’s World Test Championship final

ONE of the biggest questions that the South African batters will need to have answers for in the World Test Championship final is the slope at Lord’s.

Can the Proteas batters see out the Australian quicks with the slope at the famous London ground?

Former Proteas Test opener Alviro Petersen, having played at Lord’s, feels that Ryan Rickelton, who will open the batting with Aiden Markram, should have no problems with the slope, given that he plays at the Wanderers, where there is one as well.

Petersen highlighted the importance of playing straight in England as an opening batter due to the conditions.

“I think Rickleton will be okay in terms of the slope because he plays at the Wanderers, where there’s a slope. That will help him, or at least it will give him some sort of confidence to play on the slope,” Petersen told Independent Media.

“From a technical point of view, it’s important, especially in England, that you look to play in the V early on.

“Now, remember if the dismissals are not caught behind, like in South Africa, where guys generally bowl slightly wide outside off-stump because of the bounce and trying to get you to play through the covers and then nick off. 

“In England, they’re going to bowl quite straighter lines.

“So, you know, that’s the reality. Australia are not going to give you a lot of bad deliveries.

“You have to almost hit good deliveries of boundaries or see out good spells. So, that’s the reality that they’re up against. 

“Australia would have done their homework already.

“If Rickleton plays square of the wicket, guys, we’re not going to give him anything.

“We’re going to protect the square, but also, we’re going to protect the straight (boundaries). We’re going to ask him to do different things now.”

While the whole world critiqued South Africa’s journey to the final at Lord’s for not facing Australia and England in the cycle, Petersen believes that the Proteas deserve all the credit.

However, the former Test opener warned that the Australian bowling attack will be a lot more difficult to contend with.

“We have to give them credit... they’ve played off the back foot. They came back and won games. Those are important things. You can take that confidence into the World Test Championship final,” said Petersen.

“However, Australia will be a different kettle of fish. Australia play differently. They might not give you a lot of opportunities like other teams would. 

“But that’s the reality, that South Africa have won those games.

“Whether you play against minor teams or teams that people think are minor, it’s still Test cricket, and they’ve won those games.

“So, I think they can use that confidence and take it into the World Test Championship final. But it’s not going to be easy.”