Rabada: Staying positive key to Proteas’ fightback
KAGISO RABADA admits South Africa “haven’t come to the party” during the ongoing one-day international series against India, but believes the home team can bounce back at Newlands today.
Two heavy defeats in the past week, by six and nine wickets at Kingsmead and SuperSport Park respectively, have placed the Proteas under scrutiny.
From being a slick outfit with all the answers a mere six months ago ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy, the side now led by three-cap greenhorn Aiden Markram have suddenly become one with many questions.
“We clearly haven’t come to the party; it’s not acceptable at all‚” Rabada said yesterday.
“There are a few problems, but I wouldn’t say there are a lot of problems. Sometimes when you do badly there seems to be a lot going on but than what really is happening. Failure is going to happen and it is going to happen again, but hopefully the next game we bounce back.”
Injuries to the “irreplaceable” Faf du Plessis and AB de Villiers and now Quinton de Kock too will not help the cause of turning around the team’s fortunes in the third contest today at Newlands (start 1pm), especially with the batting unit shorn of confidence.
India’s spin twins Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav have put the squeeze on to such an extent that the Proteas – apart from Du Plessis in the first match in Durban – have looked befuddled against the turning ball.
Due to the heat and dry conditions Cape Town is currently experiencing, it is expected that the wrist spinners will once again have a surface that encourages their trickery and skill.
It’s no wonder Rabada is stressing that “the right language” be spoken in the home dressing room in order to avoid a complete meltdown.
“It doesn’t help that we have been going through a few changes and not been in the best form since the Champions Trophy in one-day cricket. We are still trying to catch up at the moment. Hopefully it comes pretty soon,” the big fast bowler said.
“It is very important that we keep speaking the right language in the team environment. Staying nice and positive, anything can happen in sport. We just need to get as much momentum as we can into the next game. We’re definitely not out of it. Definitely not!”
For South Africa to remain breathing in this series they will need their senior core to step up. While runs will undoubtedly help Markram settle into his leadership role, and for all the excitement and optimism around expected Newlands debutant Heinrich Klaasen and Khaya Zondo, it is not their responsibility to win matches for South Africa just yet.
A substantial contribution from former Test captain Hashim Amla would be very welcoming at the top of the order – not only in terms of runs but also the calming effect his presence at the crease creates when the spinners are weaving their magical web.
A good start will also go a long way in helping South Africa avoid losing five wickets or more with the score barely into three figures, as they have done on both occasions in this series.
Amla, though, should not shoulder this burden alone. JP Duminy and David ALSO INSIDE Sunfoil Series resumes, P18 In the Lions’ den, P19 Six Nations news, P19 Miller have played for the Proteas, and in fact in the Indian Premier League, long enough not to be entranced by Chahal or Yadav.
“In an ideal world and an ideal game, a lot of players will score the runs and take the wickets and sometimes you will get individual brilliance; we will take either or,” Rabada said when asked what is needed to win.
“We are experienced enough to know that sports is a game of ups and downs; anything can happen on the day. We need to go back, see where we are going wrong, calm down and then do the business on the field. We are looking to turn the momentum over.”