Key battles at Lord’s: Can Proteas keep Stokes quiet?

AS the Proteas prepare to take on England, Stuart Hess looks at five key battles that will decide the series ...

James Anderson/stuart Broad v Dean Elgar:

The Proteas captain has, along with absent vice-captain Temba Bavuma, been the rock upon which the South Africans have latterly built some consistency with the bat.

Bavuma’s absence is a huge blow and puts even more pressure on Elgar at the top of the order. With rookies at opener and No 3, Elgar needs to produce in much the same manner as he has done in the last two years – and probably a bit more.

Anderson and Broad are two of the great seam bowlers who are both in the twilight of their careers, but they’ve been revitalised under the new regime and are still extremely effective, especially on home soil.

Keshav Maharaj and Simon Harmer v Joe Root:

The former England captain has arguably been the best batter in the world in the last five years, and is an outstanding player of spin. He averages 56.33 in his last 18 innings on the sub-continent.

In Maharaj and Harmer, Root faces two of the best spinners in the world at the moment. And given how England play, the conditions likely for the series – following the much publicised hot weather in that country – means surfaces could be drier and thus aid spin.

If Maharaj and Harmer do play together, it provides an intriguing and unusual weapon for the Proteas.

Kagiso Rabada v England openers:

Coach Mark Boucher and Elgar sounded optimistic about Rabada’s chances of starting at Lord’s, following the ankle injury he picked up during the T20 series.

For all the concerns about Rabada’s limited-overs form, the same can’t be said about his Test play. He claimed 41 wickets in his last seven Tests, bowling match-defining spells at the Wanderers and in Christchurch.

England’s top order is a weak point the Proteas must target. Zak Crawley is under pressure for his opening spot, while Alex Lees and Ollie Pope lack consistency.

England’s potent middle order can be put under pressure if they have to come to the crease early against a still new-ish ball.

Proteas fielding

“Our fielding is going to be important,” said Boucher. “As we’ve seen in the recent past, if you’re going to get opportunities, you have to grab them.” It sounds obvious, but SA’S fielding has occasionally let them down – most notably in the first Test in Christchurch. Given Root and Bairstow’s recent form, and Stokes’ propensity for carving up SA, the Proteas simply can’t afford to miss chances offered by that trio.

Everyone v Ben Stokes:

Stokes has got a double hundred and two other centuries against the Proteas, averages 46 with the bat and 30 with ball. He has bowled a match-winning spell at Newlands and taken some ridiculous catches – he is a pain in the backside, albeit an exhilarating one to watch for the neutral.

He is a one-man band who has produced numerous hits, and somehow, the Proteas need to keep him quiet.

It will demand great accuracy and intense concentration to do so, but it’s the kind of challenge that should excite the players.