Proteas battle shaky mentality

No doubt there will be references to war when AB de Villiers and his team say their goodbyes at a farewell ceremony in the pseudo-chic surroundings of Melrose Arch on Wednesday.

No doubt there will be references to war when AB de Villiers and his team say their goodbyes at a farewell ceremony in the pseudo-chic surroundings of Melrose Arch on Wednesday.

Published Feb 1, 2015

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There’ll be singing, dancing and undoubtedly some inappropriate references to war from Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula when AB de Villiers and his team say their goodbyes at a farewell ceremony in the pseudo-chic surroundings of Melrose Arch on Wednesday.

There’ll be good wishes ringing in their ears and a flood of optimism as the South African squad embark on a seventh World Cup campaign with many reckoning this year represents their best opportunity at finally annexing that trophy.

Key to that expectation are conditions, which many believe will suit one of South Africa’s main strengths – their new-ball bowling. And the seam bowlers will have to make it count, because one of South Africa’s biggest flaws is their inability to execute at the end – or “death” – of the opposing team’s innings.

Their confidence as they step on to their flight on Wednesday is justified. In the last year, they’ve won in Sri Lanka (for the first time), beaten Australia in a triangular series, won in New Zealand and have in Hashim Amla and skipper De Villiers two of the sport’s modern-day greats.

Then there’s that bowling: Dale Steyn no longer merits comparison with his contemporaries, his place among the all-time greatest bowlers is where discussions about him lie, while Vernon Philander and Morné Morkel provide lethal support.

South Africa’s record in the one-day format since losing to Sri Lanka in 2013 is an excellent one: played 35, won 23, lost 10 with two matches not completed. Their recent series triumph against West Indies saw them show off their dominant batting, and for the most part the bowling operated well.

The predictions of a spot in the final four at the World Cup seem entirely justified as does coach Russell Domingo’s confidence. “We are more confident than India and Sri Lanka at the moment – Sri Lanka have lost a series to New Zealand and India haven’t won a game in Australia for three months,” he said.

“New Zealand and Australia’s confidence levels are obviously up and they are playing in conditions they are used to, but so are we. We beat New Zealand in New Zealand, so we know we can do that and we ran Australia close in all the games. There is not much to choose between those three sides.”

The comparisons with India and Sri Lanka are interesting. Sure, those two have lost recently – in India’s case a lot – but compare their tournament record with South Africa. Sri Lanka have been superb in ICC tournaments in the last 10 years – twice World Cup runners-up, the same in the World T20 Championships in 2009 and 2012 before they went on to win that competition in Bangladesh last year.

India are, of course, the reigning World Cup holders, and Champions Trophy winners, along with being runners-up to the Sri Lankans in the World T20 tournament in 2014.

South Africa cannot compare with those two, with a raft of semi-final appearances to their name the best they can offer. When it comes to tournament play, South Africa’s shaky mentality leaves them well short of Sri Lanka and India’s records.

In trying to overcome that there are weaknesses in their squad that they’ll have to cover up. The fragile mentality will face its sternest test when they reach the quarter-finals. As for the other areas of concern, there’s “death” bowling which has been frequently addressed in recent weeks and has seen the bowlers conduct sessions with De Villiers under the watchful gaze of bowling coach Allan Donald and consultants, Gary Kirsten and Charl Langeveldt.

South Africa, according to Donald, want to be unpredictable.

That’s fine, but they also need to bowl in the block-hole more frequently and with greater accuracy, which they haven’t been doing this season.

Then there’s the lack of an all-rounder which leads to how they will make up the fifth bowler ration. South Africa must hope their major strength with the new ball is able to off-set that weakness.

As it stands, it appears Farhaan Behardien will share the fifth bowler duties with JP Duminy and De Villiers possibly bowling a few overs to help out when necessary. In order for it not to be a complete catastrophe – remember with just four fielders allowed on the boundary these days, bowling even for the frontline players is difficult – South Africa have to strike hard up front and get the opposition five or six wickets down inside 25 overs.

Even that doesn’t guarantee success – just look at Steve Smith’s innings in Melbourne last November and how the West Indies constructed their chase in Port Elizabeth last week. Domingo is quick to espouse Behardien’s virtues.

“Farhaan gives us wonderful variety, because on certain wickets where the ball might grip and there might not be pace, he’s very skilful. He bowls a few deliveries: a leg-cutter, an off-cutter and a seam up ball,” explained Domingo.

The other concern for Behardien is his batting. He’s yet to come close to replicating his domestic form of three years ago, in the international arena, and to expect him to win a match on cricket’s biggest stage is almost unfair. A lot depends on Duminy in matches where South Africa may require eight runs an over in the last 10 to win.

South Africa no longer carry a load of all-rounders as has been the case for much of the post-isolation period.

The decision to axe Ryan McLaren – regardless of his poor tour Down Under last year – continues to look like a big error. Domingo was reluctant to reveal a starting XI this far out from South Africa’s first match. However, Wayne Parnell did his chances of being in that starting team no harm with his 4/42 in the final match against the West Indies on Wednesday.

Parnell’s inconsistency is the major concern, but Domingo reckons the “X-factor” he provides is an element the team want.

He’s a better bowler than Behardien and given the latter’s problems with the bat would not weaken the starting team should he be given a run ahead of the Titans player.

Domingo may have that starting XI in mind as he whiles away the time fishing over the next few days ahead of the team’s departure.

The World Cup is a long tournament; there is a month and six matches between the start of the competition and the first quarter-final on March 18. Domingo may find – by virtue of form or injury – that the make up of his team will change.

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