Proteas must be positive
South Africa need to show that they can bully bowling attacks in white ball cricket
AT THE end of the Test series, Pakistan coach Mickey Arthur was asked what he thought had been the key difference between the two sides.
The former Proteas coach didn’t hesitate.
Quinton de Kock.
At No 7, De Kock routinely gave South Africa impetus with his counter-punching style. He takes the fight to the opposition, regardless of the match situation.
Even at the Wanderers, in a tricky period in the match, De Kock didn’t betray his lifelong habit of being positive.
He was rested for the first two One-Day Internationals, simply because he had given a lot in each Test, even if they only lasted around three days apiece.
De Kock played a crucial hand, and South Africa want him refreshed and ready when he returns. Be that as it may, his kind of game-plan wouldn’t have gone amiss on Saturday, as the Proteas were defeated by five wickets.
It was a strange game, with the Proteas middle-order not required, but the home side falling short of a truly daunting target.
On their way to 266/2, they stagnated at the end. They limped to 50 overs, rather than powering to the finish line.
Despite some positives, like a 27th ODI ton for Hashim Amla, and a 93 for Rassie van der Dussen on debut, there was something missing. Truth be told, the Proteas needed a De Kock mentality in the latter overs.
They needed someone to just bully the bowling for 10 overs, and blow them out of the game. The platform was surely there.
The Proteas are one of the most feared combinations in world cricket when they get it right.
They have an ability to finish like a freight train. JP Duminy and David Miller both know how to clear the ropes, and no target or bowling attack can rest easy with them at the crease.
Those two dashers have the experience and the explosiveness ideally suited for the latter stages of a 50 over innings.
But, in order to be really destructive, they require a bit of time at the crease. Miller especially doesn’t do cold starts.
On Saturday, on a slow pitch, he had no price. Too late, he came to the crease. Eight wickets in hand would suggest that South Africa were comfortable enough to have taken a few more risks.
That will be a point they took on board in Port Elizabeth. You don’t get merit points for having wickets in hand. One of Amla or Van der Dussen had to be nominated to go hard once they breached 50.
They ought to have had licence.
Skipper Faf du Plessis was gracious enough to say that they had been beaten by a better side all-all-round, but he also knows that his own team wasn’t stretched.
They mistimed their own innings, leaving the door ajar for a different Pakistan. There is nothing wrong with absorbing that lesson now, and there will be plenty of interest into just how the top-order approaches proceedings at Kingsmead.
They will surely not allow the game and scoring rate to float along. There will be a greater sense of urgency, surely, and that will be a direct reaction to Saturday.
Of course, beyond tomorrow, they will have De Kock back at the top of the order. There won’t be a need for a second invitation for urgency at that point.
It’s the only way he knows. tomorrow’s second ODI at Kingsmead starts at 1pm, with coverage on SABC3 and SuperSport 2.