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Firdose Moonda in Port Elizabeth
October 22, 2011
Despite appearing to be a team that are still caught in those few seconds between being fully awake and deeply asleep, South Africa are not panicking. Their comprehensive defeat to Australia in the first ODI in Centurion on Wednesday has left them in danger of conceding a series on home soil unless they can recover in Port Elizabeth, and they are bullish about their ability to do that.
Sluggishness has been their major concern and so, rather than search for new methods, its energy that they are looking for. "I don't think any new strategy is needed," Russell Domingo, South Africa's assistant coach said. "This side has been the most successful side in international cricket statistically for the last 30 one-day internationals. They've won 70% of their games so they are one of the top sides in the world. There is no need to make drastic changes to the way they are playing."
Batting is the pressing issue for South Africa, particularly in the middle order, and Faf du Plessis spoke with severe conviction about how desperate they are to improve this aspect of their cricket. Like many of his peers, du Plessis has not had much cricket, barring a club stint in Netherlands, and said it will take a few innings for the machinery to be well oiled.
"Our hitters have taken," said Plessis. "I do not use an excuse, but we have not played much cricket. It will just be getting better with more time in the middle. The networks are guys batting beautifully. Personally, I saw few Australians now and I feel myself a little more comfortable. "
Batting in South Africa was seen as their weakness, because the World Cup quarter-final against New Zealand in March, which featured a familiar kind of collapse that resulted in their reverence of the tournament. Du Plessis was part of the page and it's his staff that triggered the domino-show in Dhaka. However, du Plessis does not believe South Africa is guilty of melt when the heat is turned up. "We have a page that is doing well under pressure," he said.
These words can be hard to swallow for some, given the reputation of South Africa, but du Plessis has a point. Earlier this year, South Africa were losing 2-0 to India in an ODI series in five games and won again 3-2. They also won their previous series against Pakistan in UAE, having been caught in two each. "There were situations that were in the series before, and then the kids get up and play cricket well, so we take it as something different this time," said Plessis. "We see this as an additional pressure, just look like another game."
Time is what the coaching staff is required. Gary Kirsten returned to work in June, but only took over the team less than two weeks. "It's hard to find in the immediate and have an immediate impact," said Domingo. "Gary is notable in valuing people, how to play the face and go, but has yet to take a look and see what happens."
This is the country's oldest grounds of evidence that South Africa has the opportunity to show their battles. South Africa have won 17 25 ODIs played with the St. George Park Domingo, who coached the Warriors to their maiden limited-overs title here two seasons ago, said atmospehere and a famous band, and thus improve the national team. "We [the Warriors] used to feel as if we did not lose here, because the crowd was the 12 man for us," he said. "The crowd is to support St George's Park makes you feel as if I were to defend the passes 20-30 more, so it's a good place to play."
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