Wisdom On Young Shoulders

Newest Talent On The Horizon

Young South African left-arm pace bowler Wayne Parnell has been the most talked about player on either side in the last two games. Still only 19, he was captain of the South African team in the under-19 world cup last year. Although he impressed everyone there with his all-round ability and his leadership qualities, his quick promotion to the senior side took almost everyone by surprise. In the three ODIs and the couple of T20s that he has played, however, he has more than justified the selectors’ faith in him.

Although his batting skills haven’t yet been tested at the highest level, the control and maturity with which he has bowled have belied his fledgling age and won him a lot of praise. His general preference like almost all left arm quick bowlers, is to bowl over the wicket and his style is one where he hustles in energetically and bowls at a brisk pace. He can also swing the ball back into right handers in helpful conditions. However, more than his exciting talent, it is his control that is being talked about. He is not the regular young fast bowler thrilled by his own speed and going for broke every time. Quite to the contrary, his run up, his action and his entire psyche seem very methodical. He is willing to be patient and focuses on hitting the right areas on the pitch. In the last two games he has also shown the ability to bowl entire spells without offering a single loose ball.

Balanced And Unmoved

Perhaps the best indication of his approach came after the second match at Centurion, in which he picked up 4-29 and decimated the Australian top order. > A commentator asked him how excited he felt about the pace and swing on offer and whether he bowled any differently because of it, probably expecting a perky reply from the youngster. Parnell replied very calmly, ‘that (the swing) was a good bonus. My attempt is to hit the pitch in the right areas, bowl a good line and length…if it then swings that’s a bonus, if it doesn’t, it’s still a good ball.’ He also said a little later, ‘I am always looking to do the basics right.’ It is a common phrase, but not when it is said with so much meaning by a 19 year old. In fact, the basics are just what he did right at Cape Town. There was no movement on offer there, but bowling an impeccable line and length along with subtle changes of pace, Parnell worked with Steyn to contain the Aussies to only 30 in the first ten overs.

In No Hurry…

What is most heartening to see is the approach of the South African team management towards Parnell. For all his talent and intelligence, they have made it very clear that they are not going to fast-track his career too much. Instead they are going to treat him like a long term prospect and give him time to develop. Mickey Arthur mentioned the example of Duminy, who toured with the team for a couple of seasons before getting his big break, when talking about how they plan to handle Parnell.

On the whole, it seems Parnell is in the right place at the right time. He is with a team that respects his ability and is willing to support him for the long haul, and he has a wise head on his young shoulders. If opposition teams are anxious about this young kid who can already bowl at 148 kph a la Ishant Sharma, they have a lot more to think about. Parnell, in all likelihood the South African captain of the future, might just shoulder the responsibility that Shaun Pollock did, in the not too distant future.