Langeveldt: Bowlers must bite with new ball
LET'S start at the very beginning. That's how Proteas bowling coach Charl Langeveldt wants to attack Ireland in the series-deciding third and final ODI today.
Langeveldt's charges have come under severe criticism for their failure to close out innings, particularly after conceding 95 runs in the last 10 overs earlier in the week that set Ireland up for a historic victory over the Proteas. But for all the bowling unit's shortcomings at the backend, Langeveldt believes their task will be made much easier if they start on the front foot by taking wickets with the new ball in the opening PowerPlay.
To be fair to the Proteas' pacemen, they have been let down in the field though. Their cause has certainly not been helped by some indifferent catching. After a stellar performance behind the wicket in particularly the Test series in the West Indies, the visitors have dropped their catching standards once again.
The dropped catches within the first 10 overs have a spiralling effect as it has allowed Ireland's opening pair to settle in and absorb the early new-ball pressure. Furthermore, it shields the middle-order from being exposed to the swinging and seaming conditions.
“We have definitely spoken long and hard about taking wickets upfront. Then if your spinners take wickets as well, then you can apply pressure. It makes it a lot easier to bowl to the new batsman coming in,” Langeveldt said.
“We saw how they bowled to our batsmen. It's not easy to just come in and play when the ball is softer. It does make it hard. It is something we have spoken long and hard about in terms of getting wickets upfront. Maybe squeeze a bit more in the middle period too.”
Captain Temba Bavuma has hinted strongly this week in the aftermath of the “Dublin Drubbing” that a change of personnel within the bowling unit may be due with Lizaad Williams joining the fray.
POSSIBLE PROTEAS TEAM
Quinton de Kock (wk), Janneman Malan, Temba Bavuma (capt), Aiden Markram, Rassie van der Dussen, David Miller, Dwaine Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Lizaad Williams, Anrich Nortje, Tabraiz Shamsi.