• Home
  • Cricket News
  • The Change Room Was Buzzing Sarel Erwee On Maharaj Jansen Partnership

''The change-room was buzzing'', Sarel Erwee on Maharaj-Jansen partnership

image-l6zngytqKeshav Maharaj and Marco Jansen in their knock against England on the second day

South African opener Sarel Erwee has said that the visitors dressing room was "buzzing" thanks to a defiant 72-run stand between Keshav Maharaj and Marco Jansen, which has handed the Proteas a match-defining 124-run 1st innings lead in the ongoing Lord's Test.

Maharaj and Jansen counterattacked the English bowlers in the final session to ensure that South Africa did not squander the advantage, which they  had threatened to do when the pair  came together.

Speaking to the reporters following a gripping day of Test cricket at Lord's, Erwee spoke about how the lower-order resistance has lifted the spirits in the change room.

"Watching that little partnership between Kesh and Marco, just gives you a bit more energy. The change-room was buzzing a bit more which was lovely to see. Guys are wanting each other to do well, that’s what our team spirit is about. We want guys to do well. We are in a good space with our team spirit and how we are pulling for each other.”

While Maharaj was eventually dismissed by Ben Stokes for a 49-ball 41, Jansen (41*) ensured he went unbeaten at the close of play.

''I was perhaps a touch late on that one'', Sarel Erwee reflects on his dismissal

image-l6zmdrkpSarel Erwee undone by a brutal bumper from Ben Stokes 

Of course, it was Erwee's solid knock of 73 (off 146 deliveries) and his 85-run opening stand with skipper Dean Elgar that laid the foundation of South Africa's innings.

However, his dismissal triggered a collapse that saw the tourists go from 187-3 to 210-6 within the space of 8 overs.


Erwee was undone by a head-hunting short delivery from Stokes. The southpaw stated the unpredictability of the pitch's reaction to a bumper left him in two minds, and, hence he couldn't duck out of the way.

"The lazy thing to do is to try and duck the whole time and not to play. Some of the balls today stuck in the wicket, some skidded through, it was about being aware as much as possible when to play and then getting out of the way or swerving out of the way.” he said.

"Unfortunately today I was perhaps a touch late on that one, to get out of the way. It’s not a train smash. When you know what they are trying to do you have a clear plan and sometimes it doesn’t go to that plan. Its just one of those things,” remarked Erwee.

South Africa will look to stretch the lead to as far as they can when Jansen and Rabada resume batting on the third morning.

Also Read: The Pressure was there: Deepak Chahar opens on his comeback to the Indian team