Gibson goes for aggressive play
GETTING THERE: COACH STILL TWEAKING CUP SQUAD
Relative newcomers down to play Zimbabwe in ODIs.
Proteas coach Ottis Gibson yesterday said he is pleased to see some stalwarts return to the Zimbabwe team as he wants the three-match One Day International series, starting in Kimberley on Sunday, to be as competitive as possible.
While Elton Chigumbura, Hamilton Masakadza, Brendan Taylor and Sean Williams, who have all played more than 100 ODIs, have returned to the Zimbabwe team, the Proteas are experimenting to an extent with the likes of Dean Elgar, Reeza Hendricks, Christiaan Jonker, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, Wiaan Mulder and Khaya Zondo to try to advance their World Cup credentials.
“We are clearly still continuing to widen our pool of players. We want to see if these guys can fit in quickly, into the really positive approach we want to bring,” Gibson said. “We want to try and score quickly and be aggressive with the ball, that’s the style we want to take forward.
“We’re on a journey to the World Cup and we believe this is what we need to do to win it.
“This series is another opportunity to look at players.
“I’ve spoken to the selectors about this and the next series in Australia being the last opportunities to see those guys we have not seen.
“The players know the opportunities will get less and less as we go forward, so they will want to make every one count,”
The coach said he would be focusing particularly on questions over batting, with the bowling situation being more settled.
Gibson confirmed Dale Steyn, recalled to the ODI squad for the first time in two years, is very much part of the World Cup plan.
“Dale, once he is fit, is still one of the best two fast bowlers in the country, with KG Rabada. We’ll see how Dale goes in the next couple of games and he’s obviously still very passionate about playing for his country.
“Rabada and Lungi Ngidi did well in Sri Lanka, but Dale’s experience will be valuable.
“In terms of all-rounders we have the two guys who played in Sri Lanka [Andile Phehlukwayo and Mulder], plus Chris Morris, and Vernon Philander is still in the picture.
“The two in Sri Lanka showed a little bit of inexperience, but you want to exhaust those opportunities first before moving on.
“It will be a lot about catching form at the right time,” he said.