Making the most of our presence in both England and South Africa, Guerilla Cricket dishes out a review, in archetypally enlivening ways, of the recently-concluded ODI series between the two nations.
A major talking point of the rubber, which England lost 2-1, was the keenly-awaited return of Jofra Archer. A debilitating tryst with injuries kept him out of top-flight action for 678 days. The anger and frustration built up during such a significant spell on the sideline was channelized on the Proteas in Kimberly. Archer breezed his way to six wickets, an outing in which he ”found the right line and length,” as per Mpho Moreki. Tim Dale Lace echoed the sentiments, remarking ”Everything clicked for Jofra!”. Well, you can click here to find all the Guerilla Cricket podcasts in one place.
Safe to say, watching Jofra bowl in graceful harmony was a transfixing sight for our podcast members. His display in the dead rubber is indicative that Jofra is nearing his best, a proposition that led the minds of our analyzers to a hot potato issue – scheduling. The workload management of such a game-changing resource would be vital given the ODI World Cup later this year. Jofra participated in the SA20 league and played all three games of the series in discussion, but Tim does feel the express quick should play an active role in Bangladesh as the wickets will resemble the batter-friendly decks in India, a neighbourhood where England get to defend their crown.
Speaking of the marquee event, South Africa are jostling for direct qualification. Slow-over rate in the final one-dayer cost the hosts a key point in the race, but Mpho is relieved that South Africa are at least authors of their own fortune thanks to the conquests in Bloemfontein, the latter orchestrated by Temba Bavuma’s fine hundred. Tim was of the opinion that the skipper has now learned to not take all criticism to heart and thus finds himself in a decluttered mental space to an extent.
Another batter who reached the elusive three figures was Jason Roy, and the opener restamping his authority changes the team dynamics for the World Cup. Our men behind the mic assess those implications and look at a few loopholes that may require plugging in this cracker of a conversation.
