Duminy’s career at a dangerous crossroad

I write this as South Africa do their damnedest to avoid defeat in Kolkatta, with Hashim Amla showing insane form and being backed up by Wayne Parnell, who we all suspected could bat a bit. Fingers crossed on that one … oh shit … nevermind. Parnell has just been dismissed. The Proteas are toast it would appear. On to other matters …

Apart from Amla’s impeccable batting and the best sustained fast bowling performance on the sub-continent over the last 10 years via the Phalaborwa Express Dale Steyn, a feature of this ridiculously short series (they couldn’t muster the time for at least a third rubber between two very, very good sides? Appalling if you ask me. Can you smell the money burning?) has been the form of JP Duminy, or lack there of.

Duminy was introduced to Test match cricket via a baptism of fire against Australia and as history tells, he stood up to be counted magnificently. Now having just completed his 12th Test match, his average now hovers around 30. What has happened since Australia?

Perhaps Duminy did himself a disservice by raising our expectations to such unforgiving and unrealistic heights. Ian Chappell, while as one-eyed a commentator as they come, is a sound cricket mind as they come and he anointed the Cape Cobras player as the next big thing on the international stage. However as of late, excluding perhaps that superb 99 in the Champions League (it’s T20 cricket, so it should be viewed in context), it can be seen that he is suffering from a crisis of confidence.

His anxiety when reaching the crease is visible for us to see, so just imagine how his opponents feel? Three consecutive scores below 10 in India and a very ordinary England series has left one of the most naturally gifted players in the South African set up, along with AB de Villiers, in the cross-hairs of his domestic rivals.

Even during the England series at home, and I would like to know what the readers think, it appeared that something was amiss. His fate has been linked to that of Ashwell Prince, who in retrospect received a raw deal when it came to opening the batting against England. They have been jockeying for the no. 6 position since Australia, and the toll of that battle has seem Prince’s very formiddable zeal neutralised and Duminy’s calm at the crease evaporate.

While some blame should be left at the doors of the selection panel (being Mike Procter’s now exiled troop) for attempting to shove square pegs into round holes. While Duminy hasn’t had to bat up the order, the imposing presence of a hard nut such as Prince must surely bring it’s own pressure? Prince himself was unlucky, again in retrospect, to score that hundred against Australia when opening at the first time of asking.

Now the situation has gone to hell with Alviro Pietersen playing a fine knock in scoring a hundred on debut, and he is an opening batsmen. With Mark Boucher missing due to injury, Prince batted at 6 and Duminy at 7, jostling for one position. Both are out of form, so the question is who would you drop?

If the choice were mine, it would be Duminy. Prince is a strong character, and a far more experienced player then Duminy, so he would on paper have the mental resillience to re-emerge from this current opening-batsmen induced slump in good shape. While not as talented as Duminy, Prince is a tough bastard. His past performances have earned him a reprieve and a return to his favoured position.

Duminy on the other hand needs some time away from the spotlight so he can do what he does best: score runs. While not being too versed in his ways not being a Cape-local, I have spoken to people who played with him at school (Plumstead High), and the over-riding message is that he is a confidence player. I could be wrong, but the evidence suggests, judging over the past 12 months, that that is indeed the case.

A person to compare him to his Ian Bell. The English have rated Bell since he first picked up a willow, but his career started and stalled on numerous occassions. Before returning to the team for the SA series, he was dropped and scored a truckload of runs in country cricket to win his place back, and more importantly, the hunger for runs at international level.

For all his talent, JP Duminy is dangerously close to stalling in third gear, and before it is too late, a little time away from the national set-up, surrounded by provincial friends and family, might just be the mental refresher he needs. While he has problems facing off spin bowling, that challange will be met since that is a technical adjustment. However, whatever technical work he does will come to nought unless the cool, calm, collected mind that we know he has and which he uses when playing at his best, isn’t along for the ride, otherwise we risk, as the SA cricket fraternity permanent damage.

How he deals with challenge will tell alot of what the future holds. Do you think he should be dropped? And what of Prince? I’ve had my say, but with a few batsmen such as Heino Kuhn, Riley Rossouw, and Dean Elgar doing well in the Supersport Series, it is an interesting time to be a selector.