Anrich Nortje may have been pleased with his return to Test cricket after a three-year absence, but he believed the plaudits after the first day of the series against Australia at Kingsmead belonged to all-rounder Wiaan Mulder.
Nortje had to wait until the 12th over of Australia’s innings to be introduced into the attack after the Proteas surprisingly threw the new ball to Marco Jansen and Mulder.
But, like many of coach Shukri Conrad’s tactics over the past two years, it worked like a charm, with Mulder making the initial breakthrough when he had Australian opener Travis Head caught behind down the leg side.
In fact, Mulder should already have had a second wicket by that time after captain Temba Bavuma did not review an LBW shout against Nic Maddinson early on. Television replays showed the ball would have hit the stumps.
Maddinson was bowled by Jansen for a duck to leave Australia reeling at 24/2.
Nortje was full of praise for Mulder’s (2/31) contribution, especially with the all-rounder returning to trap a well-set Marnus Labuschagne with the final ball before lunch.
“He’s bowled really well today. We were just speaking about it in the changing room as well. He brings a lot of control,” Nortje said of Mulder’s performance.
“He’s very consistent and he does bowl at a good pace and does bring something to the game. He hits the wicket hard. I’m trying to think of the right word to say, but let’s call it, he hits the wicket hard.”
Nortje believes it’s Mulder’s consistency in hitting the correct lines and lengths that brings him success.
“So it’s never easy to just line him up. It’s never easy to sort of score off him, and that’s what you want, especially from a guy like him where he’s got to bore you. He’s got to hit the areas,” he added.
“It’s a lot of pressure on him as well to be as consistent as he is, but he’s done really well, and it’s good to see the sort of energy that he puts on the ball. I think it’s something that he’s worked on quite a bit, and it looks really good from the outside.”
The pace spearhead was also satisfied with his return to Test cricket, striking twice in three balls to finish with 2/40 as Australia closed out the day on 187/6.
“Really good to be out there,” he said. “First of all, I think that’s the biggest thing, to try and contribute whatever the team needs. But yeah, to get two wickets in three balls, I was joking with Aidan, he was saying that’s sort of been part of my game as well.
“You bowl for long spells, you don’t get wickets, and then you get two quick ones. So yeah, it’s really good to be out there, really good to be playing, and just happy that I could contribute as well and the team did well.”
