Proteas switch focus to crucial ODI matches against Netherlands

Though they didn’t win either series, Proteas T20 captain Aiden Markram believes the national team can take plenty from their recent limited overs matches against West Indies as they prepare for crucial games against the Netherlands this weekend.

Having drawn 1-1 in the ODI series, the SA side lost the T20 series 2-1 after being handed a seven-run defeat against an impressive West Indies squad in the final match at the Wanderers on Tuesday night.

Markram, however, felt they could take enough positive aspects and useful lessons from the Windies home tour ahead of two games against the Dutch visitors which they must win to guarantee their place at the 50-over World Cup in India later this year.

‘In form’ batters

“I think there’s quite a lot we can take from it,” the skipper said.

“With bat in hand the guys have tried their best and they’ve put up a bit of a fight, which is good. Most of the guys in the top six are all pretty much in form, which is a great thing to take forward.

“And from a bowling point of view, it was another opportunity for the bowlers to remind everyone that they’ve been one of the best bowling units in the world in the past 18 to 24 months.

“So we’ll take as much good as we can, and we’ll also take the lessons with us into two very big games which we’re looking forward to.”

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Despite the series results, Proteas coach Rob Walter also believed they could take something out of the campaign against West Indies into the games later this week, to be played at Willowmoore Park and the Wanderers.

Walter was particularly pleased to see the players buying into the squad’s aggressive new approach on the field, which was especially evident in a record-breaking second T20 International in Centurion.

He warned, however, that they would need to be ready for new conditions and ensure they did not underestimate an unfancied Netherlands side in order to avoid having to play in a World Cup qualifying tournament.

Starting again

“There are members of the side that will take confidence, specifically in the batting unit,” Walter said.

“Confidence is transferable, there’s no doubt about that, and there’s a continual language in our team that we’ve spoken about around an aggressive mindset, backing the options.

“But most importantly, as we say every day, you start at nought and the only thing you take into the game is confidence. Everything else resets. There are different conditions, the batters are on nought, the bowlers have got the ball in their hands for the first time, and you’ve got to do it all over again.

“So it will be no different on Friday — respecting the game, respecting the opposition and making sure we pay attention to our skills.”