Proteas schooled in different scenarios
No charity cases when it comes to giving players a game at World Cup
SOUTH AFRICA are determined not to be formulaic at the 2019 World Cup.
Structure and discipline is crucial of course, but the team has trained itself to think differently and be prepared for any eventuality. This also won’t be a World Cup of a “first eleven” as was the case 20 years ago when the Proteas led by Hansie Cronje used 12 players for the duration of the tournament which ended so dramatically for that team. In hindsight giving the three players who didn’t play an opportunity in the match against Zimbabwe – which SA lost having already qualified for the “Super Six” stage at the 1999 World Cup – may have been prudent. One of those three players, Dale Benkenstein, is now the squad’s batting coach.
And it wouldn’t be a case of a charitable dishing out of chances to play a World Cup match. SA’s strategy according head coach Ottis Gibson encompasses the whole tournament.
As such, as his assistant Malibongwe Maketa explained, the team has been preparing to tackle the World Cup with more than just a fixed starting eleven. “If you look at the last two years, we’ve hardly gone through a series where we’ve played the same team, we’ve made sure to put people in different scenarios to prepare for the World Cup,” said Maketa. “We’ve played two spinners together so that we get a feel for how a game develops with two spinners playing and made sure guys are entrusted with different roles within the team. Imran (Tahir) has opened the bowling, KG (Kagiso Rabada), Lungi (Ngidi) and Dale (Steyn) have all opened the bowling.
“Playing everyone at the World Cup means we have to be flexible, plan according to the opposition you’re playing. With the squad we have, we can fight fire with fire or go with spin if need be. From that side we are quite comfortable that we’ll be picking team to win a particular match and which will suit conditions we will play in.”
That is encouraging for it will keep everyone fresh and mentally engaged and even though one of the original selections, Anrich Nortje, is missing the tournament due to injury, his replacement Chris Morris is experienced enough to slot in, without overduely upsetting preparations.
“Some guys may not play, but they need to be mentally ready to play the next game. The players have been great, there’s been no sulking. In these last two years guys have played great, missed the next game but brought positive energy and we hope that carries through to the World Cup,” Maketa said.
There’ll be no debating any starting teams for SA’s two warm-up matches in the next few days. They face Sri Lanka in Cardiff today and the West Indies in Bristol on Sunday with teams allowed to use their entire 15-man squads.
For individuals like Hashim Amla, JP Duminy, Ngidi and Morris, it will be crucial to get in some time in the middle – even if only in a semi-competitive sense – as captain Faf du Plessis and Gibson look to cement the final XI ahead of the World Cup’s opening match against England next Thursday.