No let-up for Warriors after T20 success
HIS side must hit the ground running when they return to multi-day cricket today, says Warriors coach Malibongwe Maketa.
The Warriors were last in action in the CSA T20 Challenge final when they lost to the Titans in Centurion.
Maketa said his team would avoid falling in the trap of thinking their season was complete after making that final.
They resume their Sunfoil Series campaign against the Dolphins in Durban this morning and Maketa will have them pushing hard to make an early impact.
“A lot of people have been saying all these nice things. It’s now up to us to emphasise that we are growing as a team,” Maketa said yesterday.
“We can’t sit back and think our season is done. We are only half way. We haven’t really achieved anything just yet.”
The Warriors have performed well in the Sunfoil Series and are less than five points off the pacesetting Titans after five rounds.
In the four-day format, where points are accumulated for batting and bowling, those five points can be made up in one game.
“We are looking forward to starting a new format again, especially coming off last year where we showed some good signs. Hopefully, we can build on that early success,” Maketa said.
The change of pace from white-to red-ball cricket will also see a change in personnel, with limited overs captain Jon-Jon Smuts handing over the reins and his spot in the team to multi-day captain Simon Harmer.
“Maybe it’s a blessing for us in having two captains where we have someone who is going to come in fresh in terms of Simon,” Maketa said.
“He will bring different ideas, which can pick up the rest of the guys who were in the final.
“It’s going to be a good test in terms of where we are as a team as far as growth in concerned.”
“Jon-Jon, unfortunately, falls out of the squad.
“When we started this four-day cricket journey we looked at the young stars who were performing at a provincial level.
“We want to honour that. If they stop performing that will open an opportunity for the likes of Jon-Jon to come in.
“He must now go back to EP and really score some runs to earn another opportunity.”
Right-hander Colin Ackermann has been central to the Warriors’ change of fortunes this season, notching up 499 runs so far at an average of 55.44.
The former South Africa U19 batsman, who has been batting mainly at No 3, has already recorded two centuries and two fifties from his four matches, to sit on top of the competition averages just ahead of the Dolphins’ Khaya Zondo in terms of aggregate runs.
The experienced and in-form Andrew Birch also returns to the squad in place of the injured Anrich Nortje.
Maketa said the Warriors had fond memories of playing in Durban, albeit in limited overs formats.
“The last couple of times we have played in Maritzburg so it will be nice to play in Durban this week,” he said.
“Andrew Birch has bowled really nicely there.
“We’ve had some good victories at Kingsmead. It will be a good challenge for us.
“It’s good to start against a good team and mentally we will have to switch on quickly.”
The squads are:
Warriors: Colin Ackermann, Gionne Koopman, Basheer Walters, Sisanda Magala, Eddie Moore, Clyde Fortuin., Somila Seyibokwe, Jerry Nqolo, Yaseen Vallie, Lesiba Ngoepe, Simon Harmer (capt), Tladi Bokako.
Dolphins: Craig Alexander, Cody Chetty, Rabian Engelbrecht, Rob Frylinck, Sibonelo Makhanya, Senuran Muthusamy, Andile Phehlukwayo, Calvin Savage, Mthokozisi Shezi, Vaughn van Jaarsveld, Divan van Wyk, Morné van Wyk (capt), Khaya Zondo.