SA out to get mojo back
MORKEL: WE’VE GOT ANSWERS TO THE GREY AREAS AND WILL GET BETTER
Embattled Proteas face minnows before business end starts.
Over the last few days the Proteas have copped some serious criticism in the aftermath of their failed run chase against Pakistan at Eden Park last weekend.
Social media exploded, with the armchair selectors making their opinions known and the media picked apart the problems – and dredged up history – facing the Proteas as they head into the knockout stages of the ICC Cricket World Cup.
But the side have an opportunity to gain momentum heading into their quarterfinal clash, which will in all likelihood be against Sri Lanka, when they meet the United Arab Emirates in Wellington tomorrow.
“We know that if we have a bad game those comments will come. As guys representing the country, we need to take it on the chin. It’s up to me to dust myself off and try to get better,” fast bowler Morne Morkel said yesterday.
“I think it was important for us to lick our wounds now. It’s been two days to reflect and pick ourselves up. We had a good team meeting to and discuss where we went wrong in Auckland. Hopefully we can improve, play a solid game come Thursday, and then move into the quarterfinals.”
Although their two slip-ups in the group stage of the competition came when batting second, Morkel is a firm believer the side has identified where they went wrong on each occasion, particularly when chasing the modest 232 against Pakistan, and that the players know what areas need attention.
“Against Pakistan it was a perfect situation for us to go and do the things we’ve spoken about, but at the end of the day things didn’t work out. We need to pick ourselves up, learn from the mistakes and move on.
“We always find solutions. That’s a quality about this team. It’s all good chatting in the changeroom, but going out onto the park, with 60 000 people screaming, with 100 runs to get, that’s going to the be the true test.
“We’re aware of the things we need to improve on. We’ve got answers to the grey areas and we can only get better,” Morkel said.
The Proteas have also discussed past disappointments but Morkel admitted it hasn’t been something that has required too much attention as they look to move on.
“Many times we’ve played the perfect pool games and come up short in the quarterfinals and semifinals. This way the tables have turned a little bit.
“It will be an unbelievably good exercise for us going into the quarterfinals with prep and then go back to Australia with confidence,” he said of tomorrow’s clash against the minnows.
‘We need to focus on what we need to do and that’s winning games. It’s about getting our groove back. It took a bit of a knock now against Pakistan but we’re a team that can pick ourselves up quite quickly and that’s the most important thing for us.
“It’s three solid games now from lifting a trophy and that’s the main focus. On our day we’ve got 11 match-winners in the starting team and it’s just about the guys pulling together.”
“It is what it is – we need to get the job done.”