Graeme Smith has given his pace bowler, Makhaya Ntini a vote of confidence for the second Test match against England.
Earlier, there had been doubts about whether the 100-test match veteran would be picked up for the game if Dale Steyn made himself available. However, Smith has put a lid to all the buzz by saying that if Steyn did become fit for the game, it will be Fredel de Wet who will make way for the bowler.
Ntini had a very ordinary first Test match against England at Centurion with figures of 2/119. This included a last over of the game, in which South Africa needed a wicket to win the game but were denied it when Graham Onions played all the six balls from the bowler.
Smith said, “The three guys who have had the job over the last period of time [Steyn, Ntini and Morne Morkel] have been really successful at it. Makhaya brings a lot of experience to our attack. He maybe didn’t bowl as well as he would have liked in Centurion, but he’s a guy I really support and he has been integral through my captaincy”
It remains to be seen whether Steyn will be fit enough for the test match after he had missed out on the first game due to his injuries. And with Jacques Kallis still having his rib injured, the bowling will have to be shared by the trio of Ntini, Morne Morkel and de Wet if Steyn does not return back. Paul Harris will continue to be the spinner for the South Africans.