If Paul Adams believed he had experienced a nightmare during the T20 playoff in Durban a couple of weeks ago, the Cape Cobras coach could not possibly have believed his eyes this past weekend at Newlands.
Armed with a batting line-up that would be envy of every franchise in the country, the Cobras still managed to slump to a hugely embarrassing innings and 102-run defeat to the Knights with a full day to spare.
It was not only the margin of defeat that would have astounded Adams, but also the level of application from his batsmen and the poor execution of game plans by his bowlers.
More importantly, the lack of pride the Cobras displayed in their performance was illustrated best by none other than last man Lizaad Williams, who attempted an ill-fated reverse sweep off the final ball of the day on Saturday.
Adams will start afresh this week for the next round of the Sunfoil Series starting on December 27 against the in-form Titans in Benoni hoping that his players return from the Christmas break with an entirely new attitude.
Talent does not seem to be the problem within the Cobras set-up at the moment, but rather the players’ mindset.
There will be an automatic reshuffle in personnel with Stiaan van Zyl, Hashim Amla, JP Duminy and Dane Piedt all involved in the Boxing Day Test match at Kingsmead. This leaves four important vacancies that need to be filled, although Adams will have his South Africa A representatives Omphile Ramela, Dane Vilas and Dane Paterson available for selection again.
All-rounder Wayne Parnell should also come back into the reckoning again after missing the SA A match against the English in Pietermaritzburg with a foot injury.
Adams, though, should cast his net wider by recruiting some of the impressive young players that have been performing excellently for the Western Province semi-professional team thus far this season.
Former Rondebosch Boys’ High prodigy Zubayr Hamza is virtually banging down the Cobras door with a string of big scores for the WP team.
The 20-year-old has played 14 first-class matches and already scored 1 134 runs at the impressive average of 59.68. Hamza has proved that he also has the ability to spend long periods of time at the crease, illustrated by his undefeated 202 against Namibia last season.
Former South Africa Under-19 World Cup-winning all-rounder Jason Smith is also starting to fulfil his immense promise this season with a greater degree of consistency for the WP side. He has already struck 299 runs at 42.71.
Another batsman Adams can have a closer look at this week is WP captain Pieter Malan. Although the opening batsman has not set the world alight in his previous two opportunities he has received for the Cobras, the right-hander is showing a greater maturity to his game, which is illustrated in his overall average of 50.03 in 23 matches for WP.
A bonus is that Malan can keep wicket, although Vilas will be back.
This infusion of young, fresh energy could possibly be just the tonic for a Cobras side that seems to be in free-fall after that T20 disaster in Durban.
@IndyCapeSport