This comes after the 1st Test in Durban ended in a draw yesterday with the match being called off following a third straight day with no play possible.

The Proteas skipper, Faf du Plessis, says he was happy with the side’s batting performance, but feels they should have scored 300 plus runs.

Although the Proteas only bowled 12 overs, Du Plessis added that the seamers impressed with the ball.

“Looking back to what we got, it was a good score after we saw how Dale Steyn and Vernon Philander bowled.

“We were disappointed not to get around 350 that would have been par on a wicket like that after we got ourselves into positions where we just needed one guy to bat a little bit longer for a 75 or 100-plus score.”

“The bowling was fantastic, the guys were relentless in hitting excellent areas, they didn’t give the New Zealand batsmen any free runs - that is how important experience is in a Test line-up, to give the opposition nothing to hit.”

The captain says one of the positives was, despite a lack of game time, they got to hit the nets and they are feeling well prepared heading into Centurion.

“This one match is now a decider. We are going to have to be on top of our game. It’s back to the nets for us, we have done quite a bit of training over the last few days even with the rain.

“Our team is in a good space, we were dying to get out there and play some good cricket. We have to focus on Centurion, it doesn’t normally rain during the winter - touch wood - so we can hopefully have a good game of cricket there.”

The second Test between South Africa and New Zealand starts on Saturday morning at SuperSport Park.

Morgan Piek/OFM News