Proud AB savours series win

Skipper AB de Villiers believes there's something really special happening with the Proteas.

Skipper AB de Villiers believes there's something really special happening with the Proteas.

Published Sep 8, 2014

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Harare – South African captain AB de Villiers believes the Proteas’ one-day unit are creating “something really special” as the countdown to the World Cup intensifies.

South Africa are just six months out from their opening World Cup tie against Zimbabwe on February 15 next year at Seddon Park in Hamilton, New Zealand. Considering the Proteas’ current red-hot form, De Villiers’ side are sure to be considered one of the serious contenders to dethrone world champions India.

De Villiers has now led his team to series victories over India (home), Sri Lanka (away), Zimbabwe (away) and returned yesterday to OR Tambo Airport with the Triangular Series trophy after beating Australia in the final on Saturday over the past 12 months.

There have been significant individual achievements from the likes of Faf du Plessis, who scored an amazing 464 runs, and Dale Steyn’s 10 wickets here in this triangular series. However, the most significant factor in the team’s success over the past 12 months has been De Villiers’ development as a captain. The 30-year-old has stepped out of the shadow of Graeme Smith since the former skipper retired from all formats of the game last March and matured into a leader who trusts his own instinctive style.

Even the disappointment of losing out on the Test captaincy to Hashim Amla midway through the year, has not discouraged De Villiers. In fact, it has only re-invigorated his desire and passion to lead the Proteas one-day team and this positivity has rubbed onto his teammates. “It’s easy to say now that we are winning games and all of a sudden I am a good captain,” De Villiers quipped. “I feel I am in control, have been in control for a while. I am really enjoying the team environment we have created over the last while.

“There’s something really special happening at the moment. I have lots of faith in what we have created. I’m enjoying my cricket as a player and captain at the moment. I’m just having fun, and very proud to have a few trophies around me at the moment,” the skipper added.

A feature of De Villiers’ captaincy reign has been the ability to break away from a formulaic approach despite Australian fast bowler Mitchell Johnson’s jibes ahead of last Saturday’s final.

It is not only represented through De Villiers’ decisions to utilise a left-arm spinner (Aaron Phangiso) in the opening PowerPlays or Wayne Parnell’s promotion to the No4 spot on the batting order, but rather how South Africa modified their game plan in the final where the bowlers changed to cross-seam early to precipitate the reverse-swing that was on offer. Parnell got it going early on, before reverse-king Steyn charged in to rattle the Australian middle-order with successive strikes midway through the innings.

“We have been playing in Zimbabwe for five weeks, so maybe that was to our advantage. We understood the rhythm of the game better than the Australians. We adapted really well, especially in the final with the ball, which was amazing. The wickets started getting slower and we changed our approach,” De Villiers said.

The captain was particularly proud not only of the execution of skills, but also the fact that his team were able to perform under the pressure of a final. “We handled the pressure exceptionally well. That was a big game, a big challenge against big rivals. It shows we have been playing good cricket and we’re on the right track,” he said. “Lots of positive signs as we go going to New Zealand next that will give us a clearer indication as to where we at as an ODI team.”

South Africa’s next one-day assignment is a three-match series against the Black Caps, starting on October 21 at Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui. - The Star

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