Proteas need to keep it simple - McKenzie

Hashim Amla from South Africa losing his wicket during the 1st One Day international Cricket match between South Africa and England at Mangaung Oval, Bloemfontein on 3 February 2016. ©Gerhard Steenkamp/Backpage Media

Hashim Amla from South Africa losing his wicket during the 1st One Day international Cricket match between South Africa and England at Mangaung Oval, Bloemfontein on 3 February 2016. ©Gerhard Steenkamp/Backpage Media

Published Jun 7, 2016

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Durban - Batting coach Neil McKenzie believes success with the bat will come down to ‘keeping it simple’ in his team’s clash with Australia in the ODI tri-nations tournament in Guyana tonight.

The Proteas are currently bottom of the log and need a win tonight to avoid playing serious catchup in the competition.

The elegant, former Protea batsman said it was ‘disappointing’ to lose seven wickets for 28 runs in their opening match and hopes the batsmen will trust their technique and game plans when they toil on the same surface against the world ODI champions.

McKenzie has a good understanding of the local conditions after playing for the Barbados Tridents in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) last season and touring the islands with the national team in 2001.

“There were a lot of dot balls in the first match, about 152, and we would like to try and rotate the strike a little bit more,” he said yesterday.

“We have to try and hit with the spin and try to utilise the space. Boundaries aren’t that easy to come by, so it’s probably easier to build a platform patiently and to go for the big shots later on, rather than upfront. The skilled shots over cover and mid-wicket are not that easy on a slow deck where the ball tends to stop in the wicket. Running between the wickets will be important.”

Describing the extent of their task against the world ODI champions, McKenzie said: “Our players are really motivated. They have some different skill sets, they have good spinners and quality fast bowlers, so it’s about adapting to these conditions.

“The guys have played with and against each other in the IPLs, CPLs and Big Bash so everyone knows what each player can do. It will be about who masters the pitch and the situation the best.”

Rilee Rossouw, one of the few batsmen to master the conditions in Friday’s loss, hopes the batsmen will learn from their experience.

“It was really tough,” he said of his innings of 61 off 83 balls.

“We expected a bit of a sub-continent surface and that is exactly what we got. It was difficult to hit the ball off the square and to rotate the strike. Myself and AB (de Villiers) needed to find a way to build the partnership without any high risk shots.

“We have a fairly good idea of how the surface will play so hopefully the guys will settle in and make a big play for us.” - The Star

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