Proteas are ready for a hot reception

JP Duminy of South Africa during Day 2 of the 2014 Sunfoil 2nd Test between South Africa and Australia at St George's Park, Port Elizabeth on 20 February 2014 ©Michael Sheehan/BackpagePix

JP Duminy of South Africa during Day 2 of the 2014 Sunfoil 2nd Test between South Africa and Australia at St George's Park, Port Elizabeth on 20 February 2014 ©Michael Sheehan/BackpagePix

Published Jul 3, 2015

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A couple of weeks ago JP Duminy was struggling to keep warm as the notorious Cape winter set in.

South Africa’s most experienced Twenty20 international – the left-hander has played 59 of the Proteas’ 76 T20Is – joked how the only long trousers he had packed in his suitcase for this Bangladesh tour were his cricket longs.

The heat is a serious issue in Bangladesh. Even the locals are concerned with the fact that Dhaka and Chittagong – the cities to be used for all South Africa’s matches – will be hosting internationals for the first time in July and August, the heart of the Bangladesh summer. Coupled with the congestion and high humidity levels, the home team will almost have a 12th man in the form of the sultry conditions, especially with the Proteas only having one warm-up game today in Fatullah to acclimatise before Sunday’s opening T20 at the Shere-Bangla National Stadium.

Duminy though was not overly concerned with the mercury levels rising, believing that previous travels to Asian countries have prepared the team adequately and that the Proteas would not wilt.

“We’re definitely no strangers to the heat. We’ve been here during April and May and I think it was hot as it is now. There’s no doubt it will take a few days to acclimatise. We obviously have to monitor our training schedule, make sure we take enough fluids in. And just prepare accordingly,” Duminy said in Dhaka yesterday.

“That’s why the warm-up game is important for us. We want to get the best out of the conditions that we are going to encounter, so that come Sunday we know we are well prepared.

“We know Bangladesh have played good cricket of late. We are definitely not taking it lightly and we know its going to be a tough series.”

While the primary focus will be to douse the host’s recent form (they have consecutive ODI series victories over Pakistan and India) the Proteas will also look to work on combinations in the lead-up to next year’s World T20.

It was just over 12 months ago in Bangladesh that Duminy was red-hot at the World T20, as his batting exploits helped South Africa to a last-four finish. He was the Proteas’ leading run-scorer with 187 runs at an impressive average of 62.33, and a strike-rate of 140.60.

Duminy came to the crease at No3 on occasion, but with captain Faf du Plessis occupying that position at the moment and with the increased clamour – and rightly so – for AB de Villiers to bat higher up, it will be interesting to see where Duminy fits into this re-jigged Proteas batting order.

“We have a structure, but we not too rigid, and we understand that we need to be flexible in our game plans, especially in batting positions. One of the main reasons for this is the IPL, we’ve experienced the way other teams play, so we you have to be suited for all situations.”

The warm-up match starts at 13:30 (Bangladesh time) today at the Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium. - The Star

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