Proteas seek Eden Park redemption
SOUTH Africans are accustomed to facing New Zealand as the No 1-ranked team in the world at Eden Park.
Customary though, that applies to rugby with the All Blacks being the dominant team for the past decade and not cricket. But that is exactly what the Proteas will be up against today when they meet their Kiwi counterparts in a T20 International.
The Black Caps, just like the All Blacks, have become an impregnable force on home soil, especially in limited-overs cricket, where they have lost just one T20I (Pakistan) in addition to only two further ODI’s (Sri Lanka and Australia) since hosting the World Cup in 2015.
That’s a consecutive run of five straight ODI series victories, which includes annexing the ChappellHadlee Trophy against world champions Australia, on two occasions. Equally they have won three T20 series, while storming to the World T20 semi-finals in India last year, to propel Kane Williamson’s team to the summit of the ICC T20 global team rankings.
They are often the leaders of the pack – justified by their ranking – in terms of innovative game plans and are often not afraid to risk everything in search of glory. Last year’s World T20 provided the evidence when their team management and selection panel boldly dropped the world’s leading limited-overs pace bowler Trent Boult and new-ball partner Tim Southee in favour of a three-pronged spin attack for their opening encounter against hosts India.
The tactic caught MS Dhoni’s team, who are masters in playing spin in home conditions, off guard and the Kiwis trounced the Indians at their own game. It was a tactical masterclass in adapting to conditions and being “streetwise” in its execution.
South Africa are no slouches when it comes to the “white ball stuff ”. They lag behind in the T20 rankings in fourth place, but are the World’s No 1 ODI team. If the weather permits – it’s been raining all week in Auckland – the Eden Park faithful could be in for another cracking contest between these two great rivals.
It is for this reason that both teams would have liked to see more than just a once-off shootout before the ODI series gets under way.
“You always want more meaning on anything you play in and if you could extend the series it probably would give it that,” captain Williamson said.
South Africa’s Imran Tahir concurred: “More would be fair, at least three games or maybe two,” the World’s No 1 T20 and ODI bowler, reasoned.
“In one game you might get rain and play a 5/5 so another game or two would be nice. Guys need an opportunity to perform.”
But, like Williamson rightfully also says, “it’s just the nature of the beast” and both teams will have to get on with it as best they can.
There will be a Black Caps debut for South Africaborn Glenn Phillips on his home ground – a 20-yearold the locals are referring to as “the next Brendon McCullum” – which is high praise considering the impact “Bazz” had on the overall culture of New Zealand cricket through his natural attacking and aggressive instincts.
South Africa have a more settled look to their squad with their ODI superstars all rejoining the T20 team. The only concern remains David Miller’s finger injury with Farhaan Behardien on standby.