Proteas give fans reason to worry

It’s not looking good for the South African cricket team.

On Sunday at the Wanderers they were comprehensively outplayed by India in the first of three T20 internationals.

Since winning the second Test against the tourists in Centurion over a month ago, it has been all downhill for the Proteas.

That victory may have given them a Test series triumph but they went on to lose the third Test at the Wanderers, and then were thumped 5-1 in the ensuing one-day international series.

They now have to win tomorrow’s second T20 in Centurion, and then the final match of the tour in Cape Town on Saturday if they are to salvage anything from the second half of the Indian visit.

More than the losses, it is the manner in which the Proteas have been outplayed that’s concerning.

The fielding is sub-standard, none of the batsmen are showing any signs of consistency, and the bowlers have not found a way to get through the Indian top order.

Yes, the home side has suffered major setbacks with injuries to Quinton de Kock, Faf du Plessis and AB de Villiers, but that’s where fringe players need to step up and take their chances.

With just over 15 months to go until the next World Cup in the United Kingdom, the depth of South African cricket is looking rather thin.