Proteas will fight batting fire with pace
SRI LANKA epitomise the new ‘go hard’ approach that is becoming the norm for batting teams in the 50-over format.
Their opener Niroshan Dickwella knows just one way, Oshada Fernando showed he wasn’t afraid to take on Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi and deposit them 10 rows back over long-on and Kusal Perera has already left his mark on this tour.
Batting units are pushing the boundaries by hitting the ball well beyond them. Sri Lanka are following the example set by England and India - and which the West Indies are buying into as well.
To combat that approach, South Africa are going to fight fire with fire, employing a high powered pace attack backed up by the attacking leg-spin of Imran Tahir, all to take wickets, and through that attempt to slow down the run rate or bowl the opposition out. The West Indies and England showed in their One-Day series how much of a lottery both of those all out attacking approaches can be.
It does make for intriguing viewing because it’s so risky. Sri Lanka were coasting along at six an over at the Wanderers on Sunday with Fernando happily belting the quicks until Faf du Plessis turned to Tahir. The change of pace and Tahir’s variety changed the game and although the tourists tried to stay with that tempo, the fact South Africa kept taking wickets meant the Sri Lankan target was far from sufficient.
“Even though they were going at a run rate of six an over they were losing wickets on a regular basis. We weren’t on the ball but we also weren’t far off it,” Lungi Ngidi said. Even if South Africa make changes to the starting team, that attacking philosophy with the ball will remain. Dale Steyn may start ahead of Kagiso Rabada for today’s second ODI, while Andile Phehlukwayo seemed to be over the bruised wrist which kept him out of Sunday’s first match.He could start ahead of Dwaine Pretorius. –
SQUADS
South Africa: Faf du Plessis (capt), Quinton de Kock, Reeza Hendricks, Imran Tahir, David Miller, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dwaine Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Dale Steyn, Rassie van der Dussen.
Sri Lanka: Lasith Malinga (capt), Niroshan Dikwella, Avishka Fernando, Upul Tharanga, Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva, Thisara Perera, Akila Dananjaya, Angelo Perera, Oshada Fernando, Kamindu Mendis, Priyamal Perera, Isuru Udana, Vishwa Fernando, Kasun Rajitha, Lakshan Sandakan.