Botha with few Test pointers for Maphaka

IT could be easy to forget that Kwena Maphaka, 19, has only played five First-Class matches in his career, of which two of those games have been Test matches.

- ONGAMA GCWABE

Because of the potential he possesses, the raw pace and aggression he shows, the expectations for the youngster to perform at the highest level are high.

As a result, when the left-arm quick failed to pick up a single wicket in the first Test between the Proteas and Zimbabwe in Bulawayo last week, there was a sense of disappointment.

In his spells in both innings, the youngster struggled to bowl the disciplined lines and lengths one would associate with Test cricket.

Instead, he bowled a lot of bouncers, slower balls and yorkers, a set of skills that would most likely work in the shorter formats of the game, while in Test cricket, the consistent off-stump line at a good length usually does the job.

Proteas bowling coach Piet Botha told the media yesterday that Maphaka is in the process of learning this skill of bowling the disciplined lines and lengths for long periods of time.