While winter cricket provides content for television and has met with approval from the “suits” at Cricket SA’s offices, for the national team conditions create more of a challenge than administrators care to consider.
South Africa enter the three-match one-day international series tomorrow against New Zealand shorn of leading talents – Faf du Plessis (injured), JP Duminy and Morne Morkel ( both paternity leave) – and hoping none of the other top stars do themselves a dirty on fields not suited to cricket at this time of the year.
As a means to find context for an out-of-season series, the coaching staff have highlighted the importance of creating depth – especially in terms of this series with the batting.
“It gives opportunities to guys like Farhaan (Behardien), Rilee (Rossouw) and Dave Miller to cement spots in the one day batting line-up. It’s pretty packed once JP and Faf are back,” remarked Prtoteas coach Russell Domingo.
That’s all well and good of course and with a Champions Trophy on the agenda in two years’ time, assessing other personnel is important.
However when listening to Domingo explain how they intend replenishing the squad should Du Plessis – as expected – not be able to play, it is clear this is a series the players could do without.
Domingo remarked that they would call on a batsman but only in a “stand-in” capacity as cover and Behardien will most probably feature throughout the series with New Zealand.
Adding to selection difficulties in that regard, South Africa currently has the A team on tour in India and an emerging squad playing in Sri Lanka.
What they don’t need is any more injuries, but that is a distinct possibility on outfields that normally don’t play host to cricket in August.
It was noticeable on Sunday at Centurion how players from both sides – especially those fielding on the boundary – had to change tactics from the natural inclination to slide and dive – instead remaining on their feet longer as they chased balls. “It looked like anyone could break a leg,” said Domingo.
“For safety purposes it wasn’t great. We are aware of them now and need to be smarter in the field. I don’t think sliding at this time of the year is a good option.”
In addition to taking care in the field, Domingo will also press home the importance of sticking to what has made the Proteas successful in limited overs cricket recently and not get caught up in trying to match New Zealand’s aggressive approach.
He described South Africa’s batting in Sunday’s defeat in the second T20 as “frenetic” and will be demanding a more patient approach – something that should come naturally in the longer limited overs format.
“They seem to be reliant on (Kane) Williamson and (Martin) Guptill at the top of the order. Everytime we get them out there seems to be a wobble with their middle order. If we execute our plans well against those two, then hopefully we can nullify the positive approach they have in the middle overs.”
Players who need to make New Zealand ODI series count:
David Wiese
Wiese now steps into boots once filled by the likes of Pollock, Klusener and McMillan – all-rounders in the lower order – and is seeking to establish himself in the 50-over team. His bowling has certainly improved a great deal under the guidance of his franchise coach Rob Walter, and he’ll want to build on that. Not much has been seen of his batting for the national team, but he gives the ball a good whack and hopefully he will get a chance to show off that power at some stage.
Kyle Abbott
With Morne Morkel not involved in the series, Abbott may have felt he was due a run of three matches, but Rabada’s presence may preclude that from happening. Abbott is in danger of becoming somewhat of a forgotten man, and that would be to South Africa’s detriment. A very skilled and clever seam bowler, it will be to his benefit to remind the public and more importantly the selectors that he is deserving of more than a back-up role.
Farhaan Behardien
He was South Africa’s best batsman in the second T20 international, but in 49 international matches across the limited overs formats his impact has been minimal. Much maligned, he has sadly failed to replicate the ability shown domestically on the international scene. If Du Plessis sits out as expected, then Behardien will get an extended run, and it’s one he must utilise. There are other young players for the selectors to consider if he doesn’t. – Cape Argus