Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
AB caught up in a tailspin on how to turn the tables on India
But Proteas skipper is sure his boys will ‘come to the party’ in ODI series decider
AB DE VILLIERS plays most things with a straight bat. So when the Proteas captain admitted, in the weary aftermath of Thursday night’s 35run loss to India, that he had found himself out of ideas during the Indian innings, he wasn’t being dramatic. It was what it was.
“I did sort of run out of ideas in the middle overs, when Virat Kohli was going so well. Even with the extra bowler, we tried everything. I did my best to rotate the bowlers, and we did our best to create chances. But it wasn’t ragging for us like it did for them later,” he said.
But on Thursday in Chennai, it wasn’t enough. Looking back on the marked difference between the conditions in the first innings, and then the second, De Villiers felt that India would have also struggled to play with the freedom they displayed during the day.
“I’m sure it would have been a different story if the roles had been reversed. They would also definitely struggle on that wicket. I know Indian players are fantastic players of spin but when it turns like that, no batsman in the world will find it easy,” he said.
Of course, De Villiers and the rest of the South African squad knew that it would happen.
It was only a matter of time before the Indians emphasised their strengths by producing wickets that catered to the needs of their attack.
“I will say it again, because I believe it, that it will be a different story when we are on the other side of the conditions,” De Villiers repeated, for emphasis.
Essentially then, the toss has become almost decisive in these conditions.
The best time to bat is by day and the later the game goes on, the harder it is for some of the world’s best stroke-players to get going.
It was revealing that De Villiers, with a century to his name on Thursday, admitted he hadn’t enjoyed his innings. More than 100 balls later, he still didn’t feel like he was settled at the crease, he said.
“I didn’t enjoy that too much. I was a little bit naughty at the start of my knock; I was a bit too loose. I was proud of the way that I stuck around, but obviously couldn’t get to the end,” the skipper added.
In the process, he broke the South African record for number of one- day international centuries ( 22) on the night, but such things matter little to him when the result doesn’t go his team’s way.
What occupied the Proteas ODI talisman’s thoughts deep into the night was tomorrow’s final game of the series here.
“We go to Mumbai at 2-2 now, and we are still in with a chance to win the series. I know that the boys will be up for it,” he said.
While most of his batsmen have looked in good nick, even if they have not delivered on that promise, De Villiers is backing them to come good when it really matters.
“I’m sure the boys will come to the party in the big game. I thought Fudgie ( Farhaan Behardien) played well again, even if the score doesn’t say that. He has been in good form, as has Quinny ( Quinton de Kock),” he said.
De Villiers, however, expressed concern about the balance of his side on Thursday, which means that there will be changes.
If Morné Morkel is fit again, he will certainly play, while Dean Elgar’s ability to provide options with bat and ball will make him hard to leave out again.
Although wounded, South Africa are certainly not down yet, and they travelled to Mumbai yesterday itching to rectify the mistakes of the day before that.
Wankhede Stadium will be feisty, and De Villiers would love nothing more than to call the toss correctly and put his theory about spin in the evening to the test.