Gibson downplays value of Proteas results in Sri Lanka
Coach more upset about lack of focus in T20 flop
Played eight‚ lost five. Oh dear.
But‚ as coach Ottis Gibson explained after the last match of SA’s cricket tour to Sri Lanka‚ winning wasn’t everything.
“If it was all about winning we would have brought [Imran] Tahir [who was rested] and all the other guys‚” Gibson told reporters in Colombo.
“But winning a series in Sri Lanka right now doesn’t give us a strong indicator about where we are going towards the World Cup.”
The tournament next year will be played from May 30 to July 14 in England‚ where conditions won’t be anything like those in the subcontinent.
So South Africa’s mission in Sri Lanka amounted to an audit of their skills base.
“This exercise in giving young players opportunities to see where they are gives us a better chance when it comes to sitting down and picking a team.
“By the time we get to [play] Pakistan in South Africa [in December and January] we’ll be picking the team that is very close to the team that will go and help us win the World Cup.”
Gibson spoke after South Africa had been dismissed for 98, their lowest total in 104 T20s, on their way to defeat by three wickets.
That followed two losses to end a one-day series the visitors had claimed by winning the first three games‚ which came after two Tests in which they were soundly beaten.
“In the first three games of the [ODI] series we remembered that the focus for the last six‚ eight months – since I’ve been involved – has been on trying to get ready for the World Cup‚” Gibson said.
“So we sat down and spoke about the style of play that we wanted. We talked about positive intent and taking the game forward. But within that comes clear thinking.
“So [on Tuesday] I questioned our thinking more than anything else. I don’t think there was enough clear thinking in terms of guys working out for themselves what shots were relevant on the pitch.”