Ban vs SA – 2nd Test – De Zorzi, Stubbs and Mulder show South Africa's batting stars are starting to come together

“There are a few young guys but a lot of them play all over the world so there are guys coming in with different experiences. Maybe it's not necessarily age, but they're all pretty mature and smart when it comes to doing things.” And even though we haven't played for a while and maybe we're not 30 or 40 yet, we have but our own experiences that enable us to perform.”

Let's start with de Zorzi's example. He had a promising start to his career with the then Pretoria-based second division club Northerns in the 2016/17 season, but then disappeared from the scene again when he joined their professional team, the Titans, and moved to the Western Cape Province. There he thrived, averaging 49.42 in the four-day national competition in 2021–22 and 101.40 in the 2022–23 season, securing a Test call-up. By then he had also played four first-class matches for South Africa A.

He then had to start all over again, but his experience in the domestic system meant his development at the highest level accelerated. He scored a promising 85 in his second Test, an important half-century in his fifth and now, in his eighth Test, he scored a dad hundred that showed what he can offer in the long run.

Technically speaking, what stood out was De Zorzi's ability to adapt to the conditions, particularly the amount of spin being thrown. Mentally, his ability to stay in the crease on the first day and for a total of seven hours and 12 minutes, even while dealing with cramps in his hand, forearm, side and legs, was impressive. This can be developed with practice over time in the middle, and de Zorzi has some marathon innings to draw on domestically – including three hundred and two seasons ago. “Once you're in, it's basically just about decision making and the ability to stay focused. It's definitely mental, but you also have to be physically fit enough to do it and be able to concentrate for long periods of time; “Be able to turn it on and off,” he said. “I would say to do it for a long period of time, you have to be 100% present and focused as much as possible.”

In 2022, Mulder played for Leicestershire, batting at number 6 and scoring 689 runs at 49.21, scoring two hundreds including a career best of 235 not out. Last summer he rose to No. 5 for his South African national team, the Lions, scoring two hundreds and two fifties in six games at an average of 54.90. The results of the work he has put into his batting over the last two years were all evident today in his innings, which was fast-paced and determined, with plenty of powerful shots. The twin sixes he hit off Mahmudul Hasan to reach South Africa's 500 mark and push towards 70 were highlights. “This is the highlight for me,” he said afterwards. “That’s why I get up in the morning – to try and score a hundred in a Test match.”

It may be premature to suggest that South Africa's batting blues are behind them, but the numbers from this series are trending in the right direction. Their 575 in Chattogram is their highest away tally since they scored 637 for 2 at The Oval in 2012, where they were on their way to winning the Test Mace. This is the closest they have come to this trophy since. South Africa are four wins away from the WTC final and while there is still a lot of cricket to play before then, their fate lies in their own hands.

With de Zorzi, Stubbs and Mulder adding to Kyle Verreynne's 114 from the first Test in Dhaka, South Africa will have four different centurions in a series for the first time since 2018. The last time they had more than two hundred in an away series was in Australia in 2016. Both the 2012 and 2016 teams relied on big stars and celebrated great success. South Africa will, as Mulder said, hope that “the stars align” for the same thing to happen again.