Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Adams warns Cobras of T20 buzz around Newlands
“BLOCK out the noise and focus on doing the basics well,” is Cape Cobras coach Paul Adams’ message to his charges ahead of their RamSlam T20 Challenge opener against the Highveld Lions at Newlands tomorrow.
The Cobras are the defending T20 Challenge champions and have recently secured the services of West Indian T20 superstar Kieron Pollard for another two seasons.
Pollard’s arrival has expectedly created plenty of excitement down at Newlands, especially after his heroics last season that earned the Trinidadian Cricket SA’s T20 Player of the Season Award.
“There is always a buzz around Newlands when the RamSlam competition starts. The guys enjoy the competition a great deal because they generally play before good crowds, especially in our home matches,” Adams said. “Being the defending champions also creates a different kind of expectation, and with the big guy (Pollard) back with us, there is certainly a good spirit in the camp.
“But I’ve told the boys to block out the noise and focus on doing the basics well and concentrate on the simple things. Often in T20 cricket, we think we should come up with all sorts of fancy game plans, when execution of the basics is the most important.”
However, the Cobras have never been a team that relies solely on the performance of one individual. They have always possessed the collective star power that has helped them overcome the opposition, with matchwinners aplenty all through the ranks.
Richard Levi remains arguably the most destructive opening batsman on the domestic circuit, and has the power to annihilate any attack on his day. His form will be vital to the Cobras during the T20 Challenge for he creates the momentum during the powerplay overs that allows the remainder of the batting line-up to go calmly about their business.
Likewise the bowling unit provides captain Justin Ontong with plenty of options, both up front and at the death. Proteas all-rounder Wayne Parnell will be hoping to continue the good form he showed during the OneDay Cup for his new franchise. Parnell will know that a strong showing in this T20 competition will go a long way to him reclaiming his place in the national squad, especially with the World T20 set to be held at the end of this season in India.
Parnell will have strong support from fellow seamers Dane Paterson and Mthokozisi Shezi during this competition. Paterson was a revelation for the Cobras last season when most of the senior bowlers were absent and is particularly strong towards the back-end of the innings. Cape Cobras squad: Justin Ontong (captain), Andrew Puttick, Dane Paterson, George F Linde, Keegan Petersen, Kieron Pollard, Lesiba Ngoepe, Mthokozisi Shezi, Omphile Ramela, Richard Levi, Robin Peterson, Tshepo Moreki, Wayne Parnell.