Makhaya: Proteas have the edge
ADVANTAGE: PROTEAS GIVEN THE FIRST USE OF PITCHES
AB’s men begin campaign against Sri Lanka at The Oval.
Former Proteas fast bowler Makhaya Ntini believes South Africa’s advantage going into the Champions Trophy is that they know what conditions will be like, having just completed three ODIs against hosts England.
Ntini, currently Zimbabwe’s bowling coach, was not too complimentary about South Africa’s chances though after they lost the series 2-1.
“The three ODIs against England have opened their eyes as to how the pitches will behave, so they don’t have to figure that out in the first week of the tournament. They have more of an understanding of conditions than some of the other teams.
“But in the first game they threw wickets away, three batsmen were dismissed in a similar way. In the second match they corrected that and David Miller batted very well. But Hashim Amla and Faf du Plessis took the game away in the first ODI, both made fifties and then played reckless shots.
“The Proteas have to emphasise that when their batsmen are in, they have to take the game even deeper. Otherwise it puts unnecessary pressure on AB de Villiers and the others coming in,” Ntini said.
“I don’t know if we have particular strengths, we’re still looking. There have been signs, but one day it’s the batting that’s good and the next day it’s the bowling, they must click together. And the batsmen must not get out the way they’ve been getting out, that brings pressure. Guys need to make sure that if they get the opportunity then they take the game away from the opposition.”
Ntini, who took 266 wickets in 173 ODIs, said the performance of the bowlers in routing England’s top-order in the third ODI did not impress him because it came too late to win the series.
“The third game was a dead rubber, that should have been done in the first game! The bowlers have only performed in patches, England scored over 300 in both games they won … we used to say there’s no way a team would score another 300 against us if it happened in a match,” Ntini said.
Former Proteas batsman and Cape Cobras coach Ashwell Prince agreed that conditions would play a big part in the tournament, which starts for South Africa tomorrow against Sri Lanka at The Oval.
“In England, conditions and the weather play a massive role and the big question is whether they will re-use pitches. That would suit the sub-continent sides if they advance to the stages further along, they will be more accustomed to the slower pitches and their spinners will play a bigger role. But early on, I expect our fast bowlers to play a big role,” Prince said.