South Africa’s white-ball coach Rob Walter will make “no excuses,” for South Africa’s 3-1 defeat to India but explained the series as a “balancing act,” between fielding the best XI and exposing younger players to top-level competition. Former Proteas Herschelle Gibbs and Johan van der Wath believe coach Rob Walter is to blame for South Africa’s white-ball woes in bilateral series.
A second-string India team on Friday hammered the Proteas by 135 runs at the Wanderers to win the T20I series 3-1. Since Walter took over in February 2023, South Africa have played seven bilateral T20I series and not won any of them, which he acknowledged is an “incredibly difficult,” thing to accept. But it may be made easier with the knowledge that he is also the only coach to oversee the men’s team to a major tournament final, at this year’s T20 World Cup.
South Africa’s performance under Rob Walter coaching in recent times and T20I series
Rob Walter took the Proteas to this year’s T20 World Cup final, they have lost five out of seven T20I series under him, with 16 defeats and just four victories. They also drew a series with minnows Ireland .Only four of the XI that won the T20 World Cup in June were part of the Indian squad that beat South Africa in this series, which speaks as much to the quality of their depth as it does to the concern with South Africa’s and Rob Walter recognized that.
Captain Markram scored just 48 runs in the series at an average of 12.00. In 18 T20I matches this year, he’s made 249 runs at an average of 15.56 and a strike rate of 119.71 with a top score of 46.
In particular, South Africa’s attack, who conceded over 200 three times in four matches, were in focus. They were without the experience of Kagiso Rabada (rested), Lungi Ngidi (injured), Anrich Nortje and Tabraiz Shamsi (both no longer nationally contracted) and appeared out of their depth, or at least out of practice.
Marco Jansen and Gerald Coetzee both made their returns from months on the sidelines as they recovered from injury and concentrated on conditioning, Andile Simelane debuted in the series, Nqaba Peter played his first internationals at home and Lutho Sipamla returned to the fold after a period of three years, all of which left Keshav Maharaj as the senior-most hand, who lacked support.
Former Proteas Herschelle Gibbs and Johan van der Wath slams coach Rob Walter for South Africa’s white-ball woes in bilateral series.
Herschelle Gibbs slams Rob Walter’s coaching skills after IND vs SA 2024 T20 series loss
Former South Africa batter Herschelle Gibbs believes Rob Walter’s position as the national team’s white-ball coach is untenable following a comprehensive T20I series loss to Team India. The retired cricketer underlined that South Africa’s skills don’t seem to be improving under the current coach.
Although 49-year-old Walter lifted the Proteas to the T20 World Cup final this year, their performance in the bilateral series has been going down. Under the veteran, the men’s team has lost five out of the last seven T20I series, headlined by 16 losses and four wins. The two-game series against Ireland also resulted in a 1-1 draw. The four-game series against India saw South Africa lose 3-1, including heavy defeats in Durban and Johannesburg.
Speaking to the South African newspaper Rapport, Gibbs lamented the lack of plan B in the bowling department, claiming that they bring in the yorkers quite late in the game. The 50-year-old also pointed out Aiden Markram’s struggles and Reeza Hendricks’ limitations in the powerplay.
He said (via SA Cricket Mag):
“Walter’s departure must be close. In other countries, the axe would have already fallen. Our skills haven’t improved under him. Our bowling is one-dimensional. If plan A doesn’t work, you have to have a plan B. We don’t have that plan. Australia use the yorker early rather than a late option.”
“But we refuse to do that. It has to be asked whether there is a need for fresh, younger faces in the top order. Reeza Hendricks’ hitting game is very limited in the power play. And Aiden Markram has been struggling for some time,” he added.
Markram had a hugely disappointing series against India, registering scores of 8, 3, 29, and 8, throwing away promising starts.
Former Proteas all-rounder Johan van der Wath has criticized Bob Walter for giving ‘lame excuses’ for wanting to give exposure to the youngsters by resting the first-choice players. Van der Wath told Rapport (via SA Cricket Mag):
“Walter’s management skills are so poor that he cannot get the best out of the players. He must start coming under intense pressure, because the problem lies with him. Walter hides behind the fact that he wants to give exposure to more players and consequently doesn’t give Kagiso Rabada, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller and your other best players a chance to play regularly. It’s a lame excuse.”
South Africa will turn their attention to the two-Test series against Sri Lanka, beginning on November 27 in Durban.