T20 WC a ‘big test’ for Markram’s captaincy — Gibbs
● The absence of the “impact player”, better and deeper bowling line-ups, and the possibility of turning tracks, may put the handcuffs on the kind of free-scoring seen at the Indian Premier League (IPL) when the T20 World Cup tips off in the US next month.
“Conditions, especially the possibility of slower, turning tracks in the Caribbean, will play a major role in determining the trends for this World Cup,” said Herschelle Gibbs.
The other factor is the quality of bowling. “You must remember not every bowler at the IPL is an international bowler. So I expect the quality of the bowling to be better at the World Cup, even if some of the international bowlers have been hit all over the place in the IPL... it’s the conditions there.”
A flurry of huge scoring has been the main feature in the IPL — including 11 of the 20 highest totals in the tournament’s history occurring this year — while strike rates above 160 are the norm.
However, Gibbs doubts it can be replicated at the World Cup, which will be jointly hosted in the US and the Caribbean from June 2. “For one thing, conditions in the West Indies may turn and that always levels the playing field,” said Gibbs.
“Even some of the so-called smaller nations won’t be afraid, especially if the conditions are slow, a turn will bring them into the game.”
Before then, 16 group games will be played in the US, eight of those at the Nassau International Stadium in Long Island, New York, where the International Cricket Council recently installed “drop-in” pitches.
The Proteas will play three of their four group games at the temporary facility in New York on pitches that were prepared in Adelaide, Australia, and then shipped to the US. “Those pitches usually have good pace and bounce, so that could see some big scores, because batters love pace on the ball,” Gibbs.
Robin Peterson, who coached the MI New York team to the inaugural Major League Cricket title last year, concurs. “When we played in Dallas last year, those pitches were also prepared in Australia, and were really batting friendly. They played exceptionally well,” said Peterson.
Although out of form in the various leagues he’s participated in this year, Quinton de Kock’s performance at the ODI World Cup has bought him some extra rope for the T20 competition. Both Reeza Hendricks and Ryan Rickelton, who may open the innings with him, have shown consistency this year, and are among the format’s top five runscorers in 2024.
But the power in the middle order sets this Proteas team apart.
Skipper Aiden Markram will be the bridge between the top and middle with his ability to shift gears crucial to the Proteas’ broader strategy.
David Miller, Heinrich Klaasen and Tristan Stubbs are a muscular 4, 5 and 6, which offers the left-right combination, and they are excellent hitters of spin bowling.
“It will be a big test of Markram’s captaincy. He definitely has the tools in the batting and a lot of options with the ball, but he can’t be too predictable with the decisionmaking,” said Gibbs.
“We need to be proactive, instinctive and spontaneous. It’s been our problem in the past, we’re too structured. I’d like to see us change up the opening combination from time to time, to be a bit more unpredictable.”
Peterson says a strong mentality, usually South Africa’s major shortcoming at ICC tournaments, is essential. “Game intelligence is so important and a willingness to scrap. A game in this format can turn on two or three overs, so you must be willing to scrap, play ugly, hang in there. You are never more than two to three overs from winning a game.”