It’s unthinkable that the Proteas entered the second Test against Sri Lanka with just one spin bowler in the team.
And here both coach Ottis Gibson and captain Faf du Plessis deserve to be singled out for their tactics on this tour.
After being spun out in the first Test, it was clear that spin was going to play a big role in the series.
The Proteas then had Tabraiz Shamsi return home to South Africa after the death of his father.
They still had Shaun von Berg in the squad as a third option, but even with Shamsi available again the SA went with Keshav Maharaj only.
The Maharaj then took nine wickets in the first innings as Sri Lanka were bowled out for 338.
Now imagine if he had the support of another recognised spinner and not Aiden Markram, who bowled seven fruitless overs.
Gibson had his tactics wrong in the first Test when he instructed his batsmen to attack the slow bowlers.
And he failed to get it right in the second Test again.
Why select only one spinner when you have three guys on tour, knowing that the pitches are what they are?