Proteas' shocking stat on longstanding opening partnership headache

To compound the Proteas' already substantial number of woes in the first Test against New Zealand in Christchurch, they've also found no answer to the longstanding problem that is their opening partnership.

Skipper Dean Elgar and debutant Sarel Erwee combined for a pitiful solitary run at the Hagley Oval as they unwittingly set the tone for the mess the South Africans find themselves in.

Disconcertingly, it adds to a mounting body of statistical evidence that team management and selectors are losing the fight for a solution.

7 of the Proteas' last 11 opening partnerships have been worth less than 10 runs, the best being the 42 added by Elgar and Aiden Markram - who's been shifted to No 3 in this match - in the second innings of the second Test against India at the Wanderers.

Two other stands have merely fetched 11 and 14 runs.

While not providing a convincing answer, head coach Mark Boucher believes at least part of the problem is that South Africa's opening batters' belief has been eroded by tricky local wickets.

"I think it could be a lack of confidence," he said.

"Sometimes you go through bad periods in your game. The wickets we've played on have been tough, especially for opening batters against the new ball. There are quite a few different things that can add to such a situation."Certain guys’ personal form is not where they want to be and they've acknowledged that."

Boucher also defended the decision to hand 32-year-old Erwee, a stalwart of the Dolphins, a first start despite reservations over South Africa's preparation for the Test and conventional wisdom suggesting keeping Elgar and Markram intact might've been wiser.

"We felt that the opening berth was something we needed to look at. Sarel Erwee has been in the squad