By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Proteas captain Dean Elgar says it was “nice” to win his first Test at Kingsmead in five attempts.
South Africa celebrated a 220-run victory over Bangladesh on Monday after bowling the tourists out for 53 in their second innings.
In Elgar’s four previous Test appearances in Durban, the Proteas had lost three and drawn one.
“I’ve caught quite a few hidings here at Kingsmead in first-class cricket and out of the bunch of Tests I have played here, I haven’t been part of the winning side,” he said.
“That’s not great, but it’s still nice to know that we’ve had the upper hand in this one, so it’s nice to have a victory on our side.
“It’s nice to get a victory here at Kingsmead.”
With several first-choice players on IPL duty, Elgar said they had spoken to the youngsters in the side about the importance of maintaining intensity throughout the Test after the Proteas had collapsed from 116-1 to 204 all out in their second innings.
“Intensity is what we were lacking there and a lot of guys need to wake up and realise that Test cricket demands intensity with bat and ball,” said Elgar, who made 67 and 64 with the bat.
“Even at the start of your innings, you need to be at a certain level, being in good positions and having good body language, while running between the wickets can also intensify your innings.
“Maybe the inexperience of the players played a role in that and we had a guy on Test debut, while there are one or two guys who have a handful of Tests.
“They’re not that familiar with that kind of role play, but I trust they will get there and it’s important for senior staff and members to help them speak that language for Test-match gameplans.”
Meanwhile Bangladesh will formally complain to the International Cricket Council over claims of biased umpiring and “unbearable” sledging in the first test against South Africa, officials said Tuesday.
The side was furious after several close calls went against them in Durban, where they remained competitive for most of the match before a batting collapse saw them dismissed for 53 in the second innings.
Players have since taken issue with their opponents for on-field taunts they said crossed the line into abuse.
“You all have seen how biased the umpiring was. On the field, sledging was also unbearable,” Bangladesh Cricket Board cricket operations chief Jalal Yunus told AFP.
“We will write a formal complaint to the ICC match referee manager,” he added.
Jalal said they raised similar issues to match referee Andy Pycroft after their 2-1 one-day international series win — their first on South African soil.
“Our manager spoke to him several times. But he paid no attention to our complaint,” Jalal said by phone from Durban.
“We want the ICC to appoint neutral umpires in test series as soon as possible. We are also ready to welcome neutral umpires in our home series,” he said.
Umpires from host countries have been used exclusively since 2020, when the pandemic imposed worldwide travel restrictions, and South African umpires Marais Erasmus and Adrian Holdstock were standing in the Durban test.
Skipper Mominul Haque said umpires did not intervene when South African players sledged their Bangladeshi opponents.
“Sledging is a normal thing. But if it comes to the stage of abuse, that is very bad,” he said.
“I think they abused us in the worst manner and umpires did not notice.”
South Africa won by 220 runs in Durban after the tourists’ batting collapse in the second innings.
The second test will start in Gqeberha on April 8.
Elsewhere Welsh Fire men’s side have picked Australian spinner Adam Zampa, South African batter David Miller and Pakistani paceman Naseem Shah in their Hundred squad.
Welsh Fire Men
Jonny Bairstow, Ollie Pope, Joe Clarke, Tom Banton, Adam Zampa (Overseas player), Ben Duckett, David Miller (O), Jake Ball, Naseem Shah (O), David Payne, Sam Hain, Leus du Plooy, Matt Critchley, Jacob Bethell, Josh Cobb.