Bangladesh - The intoxicating atmosphere of Dhaka’s Shere Bangla National Stadium provided the backdrop for South Africa’s World T20 semi-final exit just over 12 months ago.
It is here where the Proteas’ road to the next World T20 in India in less than eight months’ time will begin today against the ever-improving hosts, Bangladesh.
While resources and energies were ploughed last season into capturing the limited-overs Holy Grail, the shortest format was treated a bit like the ugly step-child.
Senior players, including skipper Faf du Plessis on occasion were often told to put feet up, and South Africa lost a bit of ground on their opponents after an admirable performance at the last T20 jamboree.
But with the World Cup still proving elusive after yet another semi-final heartbreak, the focus will shift to the all-action affair of Twenty20s to ensure South Africa are at least primed to launch a competitive assault at lifting some sort of major ICC tournament silverware.
Du Plessis will once again be at the forefront of this challenge, and though he doesn’t have the strike-force of Dale Steyn and Morné Morkel here in Bangladesh at his disposal, the skipper is delighted that the lights will shine firmly on him and his team for the next couple of months.
“It’s the start of the season for us,” a beaming Du Plessis said to the media in Mirpur yesterday.
“A lot of the guys haven’t played a lot of cricket, except for the guys who played in the IPL, so everyone is coming in fresh. That’s what you need in T20 cricket.
“It’s a big year for Test cricket and T20 cricket in the lead-up to the Twenty20 World Cup next year.
“The ODIs are still important but you will see one or two opportunities given to younger guys to make sure we are looking ahead.
“It’s nice from a captaincy point of view that the T20s have a bit of importance this season, last year the focus was on one-day cricket,” he added.
“Last year there were a lot of senior players rested so it’s nice to have them back as we plan for the season ahead.”
Despite scoring a century in his last T20 international against former World T20 champions West Indies at the Wanderers in the No3 position, Du Plessis is happy to have his good mate, AB de Villiers, back in the team. He is even considering a promotion in the batting order for South Africa’s ODI captain – possibly at his expense.
“We are going to bring AB a little bit earlier. Whether it’s to open or at No3, we are still talking about it but it’s definitely a higher role than he used to have,” Du Plessis said.
The potential of De Villiers, who opened the batting with Quinton de Kock in the warm-up match in Fatullah on Friday, causing mayhem within the powerplay overs is reason enough to get excited, but Du Plessis was loathe to place too much focus on individuals.
Instead, he simply wants his team to get sufficient games under the belt before the World T20 to formulate game plans.
South Africa play just nine T20Is, including today’s clash, before the Indian jamboree next year.
“I think from a structure point of view it is really important to play a lot of T20 cricket, it’s the best way to close the gap with the other countries.
“That’s why India have been so successful for a long time because they play the most T20 games.
“That’s why all the other countries are trying to create a similar format where you play more T20 games. I know the Australian are really good at it too,” Du Plessis explained.
South Africa have yet to finalise their starting XI for the series opener, with Du Plessis only hinting that uncapped leg-spinner Eddie Leie “may get an opportunity in one of the two games”.
The batting line-up should select itself, though, with De Villiers and De Kock taking on the new ball, followed by the skipper, JP Duminy, David Miller and possibly Rilee Rossouw.
There is probably going to be more debate around which of the three all-rounders, David Wiese, Chris Morris and Wayne Parnell, fit into the two starting positions with Kyle Abbott and Kagiso Rabada occupying the seamer role.
Left-arm spinner Aaron Phangiso will likely play as the sole specialist spinner, leaving Leie and Beuran Hendricks to assist with the much-needed drinks.