Proteas relax before ODI finale

during the One Day International Series match between South Africa and New Zealand at Senwes Park in Potchefstroom on the 23 of August 2015 ©Ryan Wilkisky/BackpagePix

during the One Day International Series match between South Africa and New Zealand at Senwes Park in Potchefstroom on the 23 of August 2015 ©Ryan Wilkisky/BackpagePix

Published Aug 26, 2015

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Durban – It may be true that a day spent chilling in your hotel is the perfect remedy for one of South Africa’s heavier defeats in their ODI history, but tell that to the average cricket supporter – particularly if the Proteas lose today – and some eyes may roll.

The message to the media came through late on Monday night – barely 24 hours after their crushing eight-wicket defeat in Potchefstroom at the hands of New Zealand – that South Africa had decided to cancel their practice at Kingsmead yesterday as the two teams prepare for today’s deciding clash in the three-match series.

“We’ve done it before, during the World Cup in Australia,” said coach Russell Domingo at yesterday’s media conference.

“I don’t think one practice session now is going to make too much of a difference. We’ve trained really well in the series so far, and our intensity has been good. We thought it might be a good day to just connect as a team and do something other than cricket.”

Domingo did not reveal what the team would be doing, but whispers from the camp suggested they would be meeting up with the extended Springbok rugby squad that has been training here for the last month.

Perhaps an optional net might have been the best call. It’s not as if the South Africans don’t have things to work on. David Wiese has had a poor series thus far with the ball and in the field, while David Miller and Morné van Wyk have struggled with the bat.

The lesser lights in the Proteas team will be keen to prove the doubters wrong in their belief that if Hashim Amla fails with the bat, the team fails.

Domingo alluded to this when he said that “having a batter that’s willing to graft through 40 overs is something we need to do and have.” The coach said that in the absence of Faf du Plessis (injured) in the top order, Amla was the only batsman who performed this role consistently.

“You have to find the right balance between being over-attacking and too defensive. Hashim and Faf have that balance and other players still need to find it. It’s a work in process and something that we are very aware of and are trying to remedy.”

The Kiwis did turn up for practice yesterday with coach Mike Hesson assessing the match pitch carefully while their batsmen and bowlers re-acquainted themselves with the Durban conditions.

Preparing carefully for tours has been a constant feature for the Black Caps. Sure enough, it was the visitors who read the conditions accurately in Potchefstroom while the South Africans got it horribly wrong as their over-eager batsmen suffered on a slow, sticky track.

Perhaps it was not surprising. The Kiwis had a week-long camp in Potch in July before they travelled to Zimbabwe, and it was obvious they were the better prepared team.

Today’s match, however, should provide a different narrative. The game, which starts at 12.30pm, is more likely to be a test of the two team’s fast-bowling resources, with the exciting Kagiso Rabada likely to return in place of left-arm spinner Aaron Phangiso.

Spectators can also look forward to Dale Steyn making his first appearance in Durban on this tour, while Kiwi Adam Milne will get another go here after his impressive performance in the first T20. Milne, who regularly hits the 150km/h mark, is one of the fastest bowlers in international cricket.

“I enjoyed the conditions here (in the T20), especially after coming from Zimbabwe. There’s more pace and bounce, and the ball is likely to do a little more,” said the 23-year-old who has enjoyed the added responsibility of leading the pace attack in the absence of Trent Boult and Tim Southee. - The Star

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