Gibson happy as Proteas perform to a ‘high standard’
SIGNS of Ottis Gibson’s mark on the Proteas remain absent, just as the new head coach himself and even the players expected.
It is far too soon for Gibson to make a discernible impact. “The early part of the job is to watch and observe, have conversations with Faf (du Plessis) but also seeing them play,” said Gibson.
He’s barely been in the country a month and the first opponents his team faced weren’t of the standard to properly examine those areas of the side where there were glaring weaknesses when Gibson was coaching against the Proteas in England.
“When you think the opposition is not of great quality, there’s a tendency to become complacent. The players didn’t become complacent at any stage,” Gibson said after his side had wrapped up an innings and 254-run win over Bangladesh at the Mangaung Oval.
Victory came in just over two and half days with Bangladesh’s two innings lasting a total of 85.3 overs. They were poor and not the gauge against which this Proteas should measure itself. “Playing Bangladesh, everybody said ‘easy series’ but you still have to go and play cricket. I think we’re very pleased with the cricket we played and I said to the players if you believe the opposition isn’t that good, you must play to a specific standard and we played to a very high standard,” said Gibson.
Aiden Markram started his international career off in the manner many had hoped; a knock of 97 in the first Test was followed up with a maiden Test century in Bloemfontein. He and Dean Elgar have the makings of a long-term partnership that will be vital to the side’s success this summer. As Du Plessis explained, a good opening combination has a concertina effect on the rest of the batting order and though that wasn’t very apparent against Bangladesh – the fact that Hashim Amla could play with relative freedom is indicative of the effect of a good start.
Given his previous job in England, one area some were looking to for an immediate impact from Gibson was the bowling. He only got to meet Vernon Philander in a get-together one week before the first Test, Dale Steyn came to a few training sessions in Potchefstroom while Morne Morkel did play in Potch before tearing the abdominal muscle. Kagiso Rabada, carried the mantle as the attack’s leader magnificently.
“The one thing I like about him is that he’s very open to learning. You can see it every time on the field,” Gibson remarked. “Sometimes in the morning I mention some things to him expecting him to do it later on and then he starts doing it immediately. He’s a bit of a sponge and a great talent.”
The opportunity to see some of the country’s second tier bowlers was of even greater value to the new coach. “I thought Duanne (Olivier) was outstanding (on Sunday). He did exactly what he was asked to do. Andile (Phehlukwayo) was the same, if you’re going to come in as a fourth seamer, you need to control length. I thought he did that and deserved his wickets.
“When you start looking at players for the future you can pencil in him for a role based on him being able to execute,” said Gibson.
On the other hand Wayne Parnell, just back from injury, needs more time to find rhythm and form. “We’ve had good practice sessions with Wayne. What I’ve said to him is that he has to be able to transfer his practice on the training ground into a match. We saw it in little phases but we need to see it more consistently.”
Gibson has still not chosen his support staff. For the series with Bangladesh he’s utilised predecessor Russell Domingo’s group, and says he hopes to finalise his assistants after the One-Day Internationals and T20s with Bangladesh are completed.
“The guys that are here are doing a fantastic job, so we’re still having discussions with Cricket South Africa as well as the other people and coaches around the country. The ones that are here are showing that they want to do the job and by the end of the series I’ll have more clarity on the way forward.”
Meanwhile, Gibson has stressed to Morne Morkel to enjoy his cricket this summer and not focus too much on the 2019 World Cup following brief talks with the lanky fast bowler.
Morkel and AB de Villiers had said they wanted to hold talks with the new coach about their respective futures, and while De Villiers has yet to have his, Morkel’s initial chats with Gibson appear to have given no further clarity about his future.
Morkel, who turned 33 last week, had said in recent interviews that he may seek options in various franchise T20 Leagues if he is no longer part of the coach’s plans for the South African limited-overs side. It is understood that a few English county clubs have also put contracts on the table.
“I absolutely didn’t tell him anything about the World Cup because it’s still so far away. I’d encourage him to keep enjoying his cricket, which he’s been doing before he got injured,” Gibson said.
Morkel has on a couple of occasions recently said he needs to know whether he is still apart of plans for the next World Cup. “I need to look at my options, but the most important thing is that there’s communication from the top, knowing where you stand is the main thing. As a fast bowler, your career span is only so long ,” Morkel said in an interview before the Bangladesh series.
“I will ask him (Gibson) what his plans are for 2019, does he intend to rebuild? If Dale Steyn comes back, do I miss out? When will he start trying to get young blood in the team? I can’t afford to sit on the sidelines for the next two years and not play,” added Morkel, who still has a year left to run on his national contract.
De Villiers had said in England he wanted to hold talks with the new coach, but the exact nature of those talks was not spelled out at the time.
“I’ve had a few conversations with him (De Villiers). He’s obviously playing this weekend and will be playing on the 12th as well. We haven’t really had a face-to-face yet but that will happen,” said Gibson.
De Villiers was included in an SA Invitation side to face Bangladesh in a 50-over warm-up game that will be played at the Mangaung Oval on Thursday. He is also in the ODI squad for a three-match series against the Bangladeshis that starts on Sunday in Kimberley.