All systems go: Proteas owe their fans big time

THE Proteas could not have wished for a better World Cup tonic than a 5-0 one-day international (ODI) whitewash of Sri Lanka. Yet that is exactly what they got at Newlands on Saturday night.

Yes, it is true that Faf du Plessis and his team lost the Test series 2-0, but let’s be honest, there is a very big difference between the five-day game and the 50-over variety.

What that stunning Test defeat obviously did do was sting the Proteas into producing their best form again.

So now Du Plessis has every reason to feel upbeat about the World Cup, as he made clear at Saturday night’s press conference at Newlands.

We don’t need to remind any sport fans of the long and troubled history of World Cup disasters that have haunted the Proteas. Neither do Du Plessis and his team need to be told that they owe South African cricket fans big time.

The interesting thing about this year’s World Cup, at least at this stage, is that it’s pretty obvious the Proteas are going to try and blast opponents away with their pace bowlers, rather than necessarily relying on their batsmen putting up huge totals to defend.

Going to England, if your bowlers can win you matches, you have a good chance

Du Plessis said: “Statistically we have looked at it long and hard and worked on the style of the team that has the potential to win it. We certainly believe that, going to England, if your bowlers can win you matches, you have a good chance.”

On the face of it, that sounds like an excellent strategy when you have the cannonballs of Dale Steyn, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi and Anrich Nortje at your disposal.

This, of course, does not mean that Quinton de Kock, for example, will not play a vital role with the bat at the showpiece in England. De Kock has been in tremendous form lately, and his explosive hitting and his ability to come up with shots that you would not find in any coaching manual will still be a huge factor for the Proteas. As will the leadership of Du Plessis and coach Ottis Gibson.

So right now it is all systems go for the Proteas at the World Cup.