Johannesburg - The South African side shouldn’t be too fussed about their inconsistency in the opening weeks of the triangular tournament in the Caribbean says former captain Shaun Pollock as the priority should be qualifying for the final.
South Africa are on the cusp of doing just that. A win on Friday against the West Indies would secure a berth in the final to be played two days later at the Kensington Oval.
Speaking at Cricket SA’s Centre of Excellence in Pretoria yesterday, where he was working with members of the National Academy, Pollock said the side’s lack of consistency wasn’t cause for too much concern at this stage.
“This tournament for them should just be about making the final and then producing a decent performance on the day, that’s what a triangular is about. They look like they are heading in the right direction,” he explained.Difficulties initially with adjusting to the pitch in Guyana - which Pollock said was “not conducive to great cricket,” - and the absence through injury of Faf du Plessis and Chris Morris were also significant challenges that had to be overcome but, he added, a more settled side would achieve success.
”There are a few guys who are in that squad who are not settled, mainly in the bowling department. You are going to have days where they are up and perform well and then days where they are a bit average.
One aspect of the team that has pleased Pollock is the performances of spinners Imran Tahir and Tabraiz Shamsi. “It’s great to have someone different,” Pollock said of left-arm wrist spinner Shamsi, who’s picked up three wickets in two matches, at an average of 25.66 while conceding runs at an average of just 4.52 an over.
”I’m not sure how long Imran will go on for, he’s been mighty impressive - the impact he’s made for South Africa is enormous. In those middle overs he comes on and he picks up wickets and stops the scoring rate. He’s been a vital cog in the one-day set-up and to have someone who is maybe capable of stepping into those shoes is vital.
”Shamsi is showing he has the potential to do that. He’s got those variations, he’s got a bit of mystery which is important in those middle overs.
”Utilising the pair of them in the same game would be dependent on conditions. While pitches in Guyana and St Kitts provided plenty of assistance for them, that certainly won’t be the case in South Africa for instance.
“The surfaces have to be conducive to helping them. Imran, as much as he is attacking, has shown he has the ability to stop the game. “He bowls with good control when he has the field spread in one-day cricket.
“Just to have two out and out attacking spinners in a one-day game - they’d have to bowl 20 overs on surfaces that don’t suit them would be a brain freeze,” Pollock explained.
”But to have the option of those guys and long term Shamsi, who is still young enough - it means we’ve got something to work with.”
The Star