MELBOURNE: captain of South Africa Dean Elgar said his batting roster’s inexperience was hurting the team, but demanded his players find some pride in the badge after suffering their heaviest defeat in Australia in the Melbourne Trial Thursday.
South Africa were beaten by an innings and 182 runs at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on day four to lose the series 2-0, leaving the third and final Test in Sydney a dead rubber.
Knocked down for 204 after their opening 189 innings, the Proteas were embarrassed by the hosts, who posted a mammoth 575 for declared eight on day three.
“The inexperience is hitting us hard,” Elgar said during the post-match presentation.
“We’ve lost a lot of hitters over the last few years. There are opportunities for guys to make their mark, but inexperience is hurting us.”
South Africa have lost Faf du Plessis and Quinton de Kock among several experienced strikers in recent years, leaving Elgar and Temba Bavuma to shoulder a heavy burden.
The second leg in Melbourne was South Africa’s first over 200 tally since Lord’s in the English summer, and came after they were beaten for 152 and 99 in the six-wicket defeat in the Brisbane’s first game on a difficult Gabba wicket.
Bavuma was the only South African batsman to get up with half a century in Round 2 in Melbourne, but was guilty of missing two team-mates.
Having won the previous three Test series in Australia, Elgar said their pride had been hurt.
“That’s why we play in the third test,” he told reporters.
“We play for the badge, we play for the pride of our team. I told (the players) that 2-1 sounds better than 3-0.
“So we have to believe that we can still bounce back and put in a massive effort for the third test.
“I’m sure there are a lot of guys out there suffering out there.”
South Africa were beaten by an innings and 182 runs at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on day four to lose the series 2-0, leaving the third and final Test in Sydney a dead rubber.
Knocked down for 204 after their opening 189 innings, the Proteas were embarrassed by the hosts, who posted a mammoth 575 for declared eight on day three.
“The inexperience is hitting us hard,” Elgar said during the post-match presentation.
“We’ve lost a lot of hitters over the last few years. There are opportunities for guys to make their mark, but inexperience is hurting us.”
South Africa have lost Faf du Plessis and Quinton de Kock among several experienced strikers in recent years, leaving Elgar and Temba Bavuma to shoulder a heavy burden.
The second leg in Melbourne was South Africa’s first over 200 tally since Lord’s in the English summer, and came after they were beaten for 152 and 99 in the six-wicket defeat in the Brisbane’s first game on a difficult Gabba wicket.
Bavuma was the only South African batsman to get up with half a century in Round 2 in Melbourne, but was guilty of missing two team-mates.
Having won the previous three Test series in Australia, Elgar said their pride had been hurt.
“That’s why we play in the third test,” he told reporters.
“We play for the badge, we play for the pride of our team. I told (the players) that 2-1 sounds better than 3-0.
“So we have to believe that we can still bounce back and put in a massive effort for the third test.
“I’m sure there are a lot of guys out there suffering out there.”
