Cape Town - “You miss 100 percent of the shots you don’t take,” quipped Cape Cobras captain Dane Piedt at Newlands on Tuesday.
Piedt, an avid basketball fan, was, of course, simulating the famous quote of legendary Chicago Bulls point guard Michael Jordon. On this occasion, he was being philosophical about the Cobras’ late charge for the Sunfoil Series title that ultimately ended in a credible third place finish after being rooted to the basement for so long.
"We gave it a proper crack," Piedt told Independent Media at training. "That’s all I asked of the boys. Go out there, play for each other, and express yourselves. I always knew we had the capabilities and talent. The energies just needed to be steered in the same direction. We gave it a full go and were just pipped at the post. I’m very proud of the boys."
It is the momentum of being undefeated in 2017, having won three of their five first-class matches this year that Piedt wants to take into the One-Day Cup. The Cobras, last season’s runners-up, don’t have an easy start to the competition as they head to Bloemfontein to face the newly-crowned Sunfoil Series champions, the Knights, in their own backyard on Sunday.
There will though be a couple of personnel changes with the experienced Richard Levi being added to the Cobras squad to add some firepower at the top of the order, while Proteas Test all-rounder Vernon Philander also makes a welcome return to the “Blues” after recovering from a minor injury.
Philander’s progress in the One-Day Cup will be certainly monitored by both the national selectors and the team management away in New Zealand as the search for an opening bowler for the Proteas ODI team continues in the build-up to the ICC Champions Trophy.
“We’re looking to attack with Vern upfront because the Knights don’t bat very deep. He knows how kwaai he is, he doesn’t need to prove to us how kwaai he is. Ten overs for 18 runs and four wickets will do quite nicely (laughs). But seriously, he just needs to do what he does and we’ll try to get him ready for New Zealand to go and win another Test series for the Proteas,” Piedt said.
But while Piedt is pleased that he can call on stars such as Levi and Philander, the skipper is equally excited to see how the younger members of his squad perform in the One-Day Cup.
All-rounder Jason Smith certainly fits into this category. Having showed his quality on debut in last season’s competition when he struck a half-century at Newlands and now having the experience of a full first-class season behind him, Piedt wants the 21-year-old and his contemporaries like pace bowler Tshepo Moreki to really leave their mark in the series.
"We have quite a youngish team in certain areas and they’ll be looking forward to step up," the skipper said.
"I think growing up in Cape Town, we’re known to play with a bit of flair and this is a format where we can express ourselves. Our team chats is all about expressing ourselves. Our young players don’t have a fear of failure. I think that’s our strength in the team environment."
CAPE COBRAS ONE-DAY CUP SQUAD:
Richard Levi, Omphile Ramela, Stiaan van Zyl, Justin Ontong, Jason Smith, Dane Vilas (wk), Aviwe Mgijima, Vernon Philander, Dane Piedt, Rory Kleinveldt, George Linde, Tshepo Moreki