Proteas coach Russell Domingo says the squad will hit the reset button after the high of the T20 International series win as they prepare for the first One-Day International (ODI) against India in Kanpur on Sunday.
The Proteas’ emphatic 2-0 win in the T20I series got the tour off to a perfect start, but Domingo is aware it is only a small step ahead of a long journey still to come.
“As far as I’m concerned India are good in all three formats,” he said in response to a suggestion that India were stronger in ODI’s and Tests than T20’s. “If you look at the IPL that takes place and some of the players in the team, they have a phenomenally good T20 record and T20 side. We are very pleased with the way that the first result has gone.
“We know it’s only two days of cricket that we have played and there are still 25 days of cricket left for us,” he explained.
“We will break it up into passages, the first little passage is done so now we have to focus our energy on to what happens in Kanpur. We will take it one day at a time and not look too far ahead, we also can’t get too cocky and confident about what has happened because we know India are a quality side and we have to be on top of our game to compete against them in this one-day series.”
There is little to separate the teams from a rankings perspective, with second-placed India five points ahead of the Proteas in number three on the ICC ODI team rankings.
Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel and Aaron Phangiso have joined the squad, with the speedsters adding vast experience to the environment, especially to a young bowler like Kagiso Rabada who is still learning the tricks and trades of international cricket.
“It’s very important,” Domingo said of the mentor role Steyn and Morkel play in the squad. “Dale and Morne are iconic bowlers and for KG (Rabada) to play with those players at a certain stage of his career will only benefit him.”
The squad travelled to Kanpur on Friday evening and will have one training session at the Green Park before the first match of the series on Sunday. - Cricket South Africa