Sport

PLAYER RATINGS | Mulder leads record-breaking Proteas to series whitewash in Zimbabwe

SA Tour of Zimbabwe

Ongama Gcwabe|Published

Wiaan Mulder was undoubtedly the star of the Proteas two-match Test series against Zimbabwe. Photo: BackpagePix

Image: Backpagepix

The Proteas completed a 2-0 Test series victory over Zimbabwe in Bulawayo earlier this week to hand Shukri Conrad's men their record tenth consecutive victory.

Here, Ongama Gcwabe assigns each player their rating out of 10.

9.5 – Wiaan Mulder

Runs: 531, Ave: 265.5, HS: 367 not out, 2x100s & Wickets: 7, Ave: 15.28, BBI: 4/50

The undoubted Player of the Series, Mulder, had a dream Test series in Zimbabwe with both bat and ball where he led the inexperienced squad with distinction. The 27-year-old broke records as South Africa whitewashed Zimbabwe.

9 – Corbin Bosch

Runs: 136, Ave: 136, HS: 100 not out, 1x100 & Wickets: 10, Ave: 13.9, BBI: 5/43

Bosch, having last played Test cricket in the Boxing Day Test, impressed with both bat and ball, scoring his maiden century and taking his maiden five-wicket haul.

9 – Lhuan-dre Pretorius

Runs: 235, Ave: 78.3, HS: 153, 1x100, 1x50

South Africa's newest batting prodigy had a dream start to his Test career, scoring 153 on debut, the highest Test score by a debutant, and followed it up with a half-century in the second Test as he proved that he can hold his ground at the highest level.

7 – Codi Yusuf

Wickets: 10, Ave: 12.20, BBI: 3/22

Like Dale Steyn alluded to on social media, Yusuf's national call-up was well deserved, and the quick proved it, taking 10 wickets in the series as he became the joint leading wicket-taker in the series.

6 – David Bedingham

Runs: 117, Ave: 39, HS: 82, 1x50

Having gone under the radar in the first Test, Bedingham came out guns blazing in the second Test, scoring a half-century in the first innings and built a big partnership with Mulder to help set up South Africa's innings victory in the second Test.

6 – Prenelan Subrayen

Wickets: 4, Ave: 19.5, BBI: 4/42

Subrayen certainly gave Conrad a lot to think about in the series as he took a four-wicket haul in the first innings. South Africa have two subcontinent tours later this year and he might have convinced Conrad that he is the man to operate alongside Maharaj.

5 – Kyle Verreynne

Runs: 88, Ave: 44, HS: 42 not out

Verreynne had a quiet series by his own standards. His unbeaten 42 in the second Test was his highlight of the tour and his glovework behind the stumps was as flawless as ever.

5 – Dewald Brevis

Runs: 84, Ave: 28, HS: 51, 1x50

On debut, Brevis had a solid start to his career, scoring a half-century in the first innings of the first Test as he showed glimpses of how his attacking game could fit into the full-strength Proteas Test squad.

4 – Senuran Muthusamy

Wickets: 4, Ave: 34, BBI: 3/77

. Replacing Keshav Maharaj in the second innings, Muthusamy got the job done for the Proteas, returning 3/77 in the first innings.

4 – Keshav Maharaj

Wickets: 4, Ave: 35.2, BBI: 3/70

In a seam-bowler friendly wicket in the first Test, Maharaj made his presence felt as he has done so many times in the past. The groin injury that he picked up in the first Test took the left-arm spinner out of the series.

2 – Tony de Zorzi

Runs: 41, Ave: 13.7, HS: 31

For someone who lost his place as an opener, De Zorzi would have liked to have a much better series. However, it was not meant to be as the left-handed batter did not make full use of his opportunity in Zimbabwe.

2 – Lesego Senokwane and Matthew Breetzke

Minimal impact in the series. Both remain part of the longer-term plans but did not feature prominently in this tour.