Zaahier Adams
Proteas white-ball coach Rob Walter has pleaded for “patience” as the growing pains continue in the limited-overs formats.
Walter had opted to rest a host of senior players for the tour to the United Arab Emirates where they would face Afghanistan in a three-match ODI series followed by a two-match T20I and a further three-match ODI series against Ireland.
However, the inexperience of the group has been exposed thus far with Afghanistan claiming a first ODI series victory over the Proteas before Ireland also pulled off a maiden T20 victory on Sunday to level the series in Abu Dhabi.
It certainly has been a chastening experience with Walter having to endure a painstaking collapse at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium as the Proteas failed to get over the line despite needing just 38 runs off the final 25 deliveries with seven wickets still intact.
Walter, though, is trying to remain pragmatic, as he looks to build the Proteas’ depth.
“In T20 cricket things can turn around quickly,” said Walter of the 10-run defeat. “We should have got over the line. The effort was there.
“With the bat we were in a great position to win, we could have been more clinical, but they executed their plans well and made it tough for us to get it done. We have to keep looking for positives. It’s important everyone understands the journey we’re on as a team.
“We must be patient, but we must also be harder in some instances and expect more. We’ll continue to endeavour to be better.”
There were a couple of promising performances at the top of the Proteas’ batting order with Ryan Rickelton and Matthew Breetzke striking their maiden international half-centuries, while all-rounder Patrick Kruger also claimed a career-best 4-27 in the first match of the Irish series.
Walter knows, though, that there is still plenty of work to be done to get this group of players up to the required standard.
“We need to see where guys stand, also for them to get an insight into what they need to work on,” he said.
“We didn’t achieve the results we were hoping to, but we came up against some stiff opposition, too. Some of our young cricketers played good cricket, learnt a lot, and hopefully the learnings will now turn into performance.
“It hurts to lose. We’re a proud team and we know we play for a proud nation. You want to win every game, and we’re trying to do that.
“We should have won the series against Ireland, but we didn’t. We’re trying to piece the puzzle pieces together and improve our performances as a unit.”
Walter will be hoping his charges have learnt their lessons from the past fortnight heading into the first match of the ODI series against Ireland starting tomorrow in Abu Dhabi.
Meanwhile, Shukri Conrad announced his side to face Bangladesh in their Test series later this month, bolstering his spin department by recalling all-rounder Senuran Muthusamy.
Kagiso Rabada will also be back to spearhead the Test attack, along with Nandre Burger, with Dane Paterson and all-rounder Wiaan Mulder providing support to the frontline seamers.
Proteas ODI squad for Ireland series: Temba Bavuma (capt), Tony de Zorzi, Ryan Rickelton, Jason Smith, Tristan Stubbs, Rassie van der Dussen, Kyle Verreynne, Wiaan Mulder, Andile Phehlukwayo, Ottneil Baartman, Nandre Burger, Bjorn Fortuin, Lungi Ngidi, Nqaba Peter, Lizaad Williams.
Proteas Test squad v Bangladesh: Temba Bavuma (capt), David Bedingham, Matthew Breetzke, Nandre Burger, Tony de Zorzi, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Senuran Muthusamy, Dane Paterson, Dane Piedt, Kagiso Rabada, Tristan Stubbs, Ryan Rickelton, Kyle Verreynne