RASSIE GETS HIS SHOT
Van der Dussen and the other new faces are keen to get stuck into the Pakistan ODI side
LIKE MANY of us, new Proteas call-up Rassie van der Dussen was a keen observer of the recent Test series between South Africa and the visiting Pakistan.
He watched on as the Proteas leaned on their traditional strengths and ultimately blew the tourists away with a brutal show of force. He has seen several of those quick bowlers at close quarters, especially in recent months.
“The Test team has done brilliantly. To win 3-0 at home, against a formidable Pakistan side, is great. We are hoping to take that momentum into the one-day competition,” the new cap said ahead of the series opener in Port Elizabeth tomorrow.
“We have one or two new faces, including myself, and we are trying to feed off that momentum from the Test players,” he explained.
One of those new faces is Duanne Olivier, who wreaked havoc with the Pakistan batters. His barrage of short-pitched bowling was too hot to handle as he helped himself to a Man of the Series gong.
Van der Dussen needs no introduction to the Bone Collector, having shared a Jozi Stars dressing-room in the Mzansi Super League.
A winning dressing-room, at that.
Seeing him use the tournament as a springboard to significantly loftier targets can only be a good thing for Van der Dussen and the rest, but they are certainly taking nothing for granted.
“It’s important to go back to square one. The Pakistan team will also see it as a new opportunity for them to start afresh and make an impact on the series.
“It’s the same for us; it’s a new format and two new teams,” he pointed out.
That it most certainly is, and the Champions Trophy holders will be a different beast with white ball in hand. The 50-over format will embolden them, and even their spinners will expect to come into the reckoning a lot more.
For the Proteas, still ironing out some issues in their World Cup plans, it is very important to start off on the right note. Pakistan are notorious for finding a rhythm, and then not letting go of that tempo.
“Momentum counts for something but from our side, we know we will have to be at our best to beat a strong side,” Van der Dussen warned.
There is plenty of respect for the visitors within the Proteas camp, and even a 3-0 whitewash in the Test series won’t alter that awareness of the dangers that lurk next door.
While the Test series emphasised South Africa’s strengths, the one-day series will give Pakistan five chances to try and reveal some weaknesses. What is more, the Proteas would actually welcome that.
Better here than at the World Cup, surely.
The first ODI will be played at St George’s Park tomorrow (1pm).