Du Plessis rested for England ODI series
The Proteas will rest
Faf du Plessis for the upcoming ODI Series against England despite the side
being in need of a batsman of his quality as they prepare to take on the worlds
best in a three match 50 over series starting on Friday.
Du Plessis was one of
the best performers for the Proteas in the T20 series against England but will
be rested after his efforts in the T20 series and the recent Indian Premier League
that took place in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
Along with Du Plessis the Proteas will be without their bowling lynchpin Kagiso Rabada who will miss the three-match series due to an injury, however he will also be given some time off in order to be ready for the first test match against Sri Lanka on Boxing Day.
Pite van Biljoen, Bjorn Fortuin and Reeza Hendricks have also all been released from the squad to join their franchises for the last two rounds of the 4-Day Domestic Series before the Christmas break.
Proteas bowling coach Charl Langeveldt knows that the bowlers have been undercooked but believes there isn’t much they could have done to prevent this.
“The guys have played four day cricket so they have been bowling but they haven’t played any T20 cricket,” Langeveldt said.
“We are all professionals and we try and get the guys to that level as quickly as possible but it’s difficult to get that match intensity because we didn’t have any warm-up games.”
Coming up against the world champions, who might be without some of their stars, will be a difficult task given their great form in white ball cricket in the recent past.
“They’ve got a very well balanced side and a lot of experience with guys who have been playing for a number of years together as a team.
“For our young bowlers it’s a great opportunity to test the mental aspect of your game against a side that is going to come hard at you, that’s the nature of their game.
“Mentally we are going to have to be strong when we are under pressure and be able to execute when it counts,” Langeveldt added.
Losing the likes of Rabada for the series is going to be a big blow for the young Proteas bowling line-up.
“Not having KG (Rabada) is going to be massive because he strikes often with the new ball and that’s what we have spoken a lot about – being able to take wickets in the first ten overs.
“In saying that it’s another opportunity for a youngster to put up his hand.”
Along with Du Plessis the Proteas will be without their bowling lynchpin Kagiso Rabada who will miss the three-match series due to an injury, however he will also be given some time off in order to be ready for the first test match against Sri Lanka on Boxing Day.
Pite van Biljoen, Bjorn Fortuin and Reeza Hendricks have also all been released from the squad to join their franchises for the last two rounds of the 4-Day Domestic Series before the Christmas break.
Proteas bowling coach Charl Langeveldt knows that the bowlers have been undercooked but believes there isn’t much they could have done to prevent this.
“The guys have played four day cricket so they have been bowling but they haven’t played any T20 cricket,” Langeveldt said.
“We are all professionals and we try and get the guys to that level as quickly as possible but it’s difficult to get that match intensity because we didn’t have any warm-up games.”
Coming up against the world champions, who might be without some of their stars, will be a difficult task given their great form in white ball cricket in the recent past.
“They’ve got a very well balanced side and a lot of experience with guys who have been playing for a number of years together as a team.
“For our young bowlers it’s a great opportunity to test the mental aspect of your game against a side that is going to come hard at you, that’s the nature of their game.
“Mentally we are going to have to be strong when we are under pressure and be able to execute when it counts,” Langeveldt added.
Losing the likes of Rabada for the series is going to be a big blow for the young Proteas bowling line-up.
“Not having KG (Rabada) is going to be massive because he strikes often with the new ball and that’s what we have spoken a lot about – being able to take wickets in the first ten overs.
“In saying that it’s another opportunity for a youngster to put up his hand.”
