Just next to the T20I series opener that starts on Friday, July 5, Marizanne Kapp left the team’s nets to do what has become a usual chore for her. As the rain began to gather momentum and steadily increased at Chepauk, Kapp decided to twist her back that has barred her from bowling all through this India tour. She persevered that it soon changed to a real rainfall, thus putting a halt to the activity.
South Africa’s Pace Concerns
That is why, ideally, in what would be their last series before the T20 World Cup set to commence in October, South Africa would have preferred Kapp to bowl with the new ball in Chennai. However, the pace spearhead’s bowling readiness is still on the receiving end of a daily examination. It is something that the visitors are not yet worrying about, and for a couple of very valid reasons.
“It’s a good time to maybe see if we could perhaps use a bit more spin in the powerplay or at the death,” captain Laura Wolvaardt said on how South Africa are looking to refine their spin plans in the three upcoming T20Is. “Traditionally we use a lot of spin in the middle, but it could be a good time to experiment with one or two things. India will probably play a lot of spinners and maybe only one or two pacers, so they’ll probably bowl spin throughout the innings, which is something we could try as well. But yeah, it depends on the day and how the conditions unfold and how spin-friendly it is out there,”
Exploring Options Ahead of T20 World Cup
The Carling Cup in an attempt to shape what would be South Africa’s best eleven provided some debut to youthful players in the build up to the spectacle. That tinkering, however, has not paid off in their zero-to-three loss to Australia outside and the one-to-two loss to Sri Lanka at home. But Wolvaardt still believed that South Africa are well-placed to set the preferred bowling line-up ahead of the World Cup as Kapp prepared to return and the Indian tour should reveal the blueprint.
“We’re pretty close,” the 25-year-old said. “Obviously, in an ideal world, Marizanne would also be bowling, but other than that I think we should have everyone on board. Having Chloe back as well it should be as close, barring any injuries, touchwood.
“It’s one of our last dress rehearsals before the big occasion. So I think we’ll be looking to play as strong an XI as we can and to have plans that we can take to the World Cup. Whether they be bowling options or the batting line-up, just try and nail down different combinations. I think we’ve had a few T20 series in the last couple of tours where we’ve sort of tried one or two things and given some youngsters opportunity. But for this one, we’ll be looking to play our best side and the most likely side to be playing in the World Cup,”
SA Seek First Victory on Tour Amid Inconsistency
In placing all their best players on the field, the visitor’s team would also be looking to pin a first victory on their tour, after being defeated with 0-3 in the preceding one-day internationals in Bengaluru and with a 10 wickets crushing defeat in the one-off test match that took place earlier this week. South Africa has not been without effort this has been an issue of inconsistency across all aspects of the sport. Skipper Wolvaardt has delivered a fightback hundred with both style and substance, in the second ODI when SA almost overturned India ‘s 325 or the Test-style game in which she took her team to the final slated hour of play after being bundled out follow-on.
In patches, she has encouraged her side to be slightly more proactive in searching for ‘those that extra 10 or 20 runs with the bat and likewise, with the bowl and try to save that extra 10 or 20’ in the field.
“It’s just about for the batting unit to find that extra 10 or 20 runs. Throughout that Australia series we were sort of pushing 150-160s, but with the game nowadays, and on a flat wicket, teams are scoring 180-200 especially in these conditions. In the WPL, there are also a lot of very high scores. And with the ball too, it’s about just being a bit more clinical and a bit more consistent. But yeah, the direction of the game is moving, and we need to keep being brave and playing positive cricket,”