Do South Africa have Spin Problems?

Do South Africa have Spin Problems?

Upon reflection, South Africa's recent Test win over the West Indies seems flawless. Fiery pace from Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel, and gallant batting from captain Graeme Smith makes the victory seem rather positive.

Yet there is one problem which simply cannot be ignored- Sulieman Benn took 8/194 across both innings, while debutant off-spinner Shane Shillingford provided apt support with 3/96. Not for a minute am I suggesting Sulieman Benn is a sub-par spinner- he fully deserves credit for some great bowling. Benn is a hard working toiler who is capable of upsetting giants on his day, as is proven by his 5/155 against the Australians during the 2nd Test at Adelaide earlier this year.

But when the South Africans hosted the English late last year, Graeme Swann snared 21 wickets. Graeme Swann is undoubtedly one of the up and coming spinners in world cricket, who is tipped to be high on the wicket taking list during the upcoming Ashes series down under.

However quickly these two are improving, the fact remains they are not Shane Warne or Muttiah Muralitharan and neither of them should have done so well against a strong South African batting line-up- at one stage, Benn and his fellow ofiie had the Proteas struggling to keep afloat at 107-5 before Mark Boucher came to the rescue once again.