Mulder: Gibson likes what he sees
MISSION: COACH WANTS TO WIDEN POOL OF PLAYERS
But changes kept to a minimum as Proteas chase ODI series win in Paarl.
New proteas coach Ottis Gibson has already said that he wants to use as many players as possible this summer as they build towards the next World Cup, but not too many changes to the winning XI are expected when South Africa take on Bangladesh in the second ODI in Paarl today.
A win would wrap up another series win over the tourists, which is the first priority, but Gibson might still use young Wiaan Mulder, who was rushed into the squad yesterday as a replacement for the injured Wayne Parnell, as one of the bowling all-rounders.
While captain Faf du Plessis has spoken about wanting to give Andile Phehlukwayo more opportunity with the bat and Dwaine Pretorius used the slower short ball well in the first ODI on his way to figures of two for 48, Gibson said yesterday that he certainly has his eye on the 19-year-old Mulder.
“He is very talented. On one of the first days I got into the country I went down to the Wanderers and he was playing, I saw him and immediately liked him. I asked a question about him and they said he was in the system already, a good young U-19 player.
“One of the things we are trying to do as a one-day team is widening the pool of players that we have to choose from. He is here now because he is talented and is somebody who, in two years’ time, if developed in the right way, there is no reason why he can’t be part of the squad going forward,” Gibson said.
For Mulder, the opportunity is all about soaking up the knowledge of the international stars around him.
“It’s an absolute dream to spend time with guys like AB de Villiers and Hashim Amla. They are going to be legends forever, so I’m going to try and feed off them and do my absolute best to become like them one day,” Mulder said.