With no T20 World Cup scheduled this yr, Proteas restricted overs coach Rob Walter says the SA squad will use the 20-over series in opposition to West Indies beginning this weekend to assist them put together for the 50-over World Cup to be performed in India in October.
While the nationwide selectors handed caps to a handful of debutants through the not too long ago concluded ODI series in opposition to the Windies, which led to a 1-1 draw, Walter confirmed they might have a extra skilled crew on the park within the T20 series, forward of essential ODI matches in opposition to the Netherlands later this month which they need to win to safe automated World Cup qualification.
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“We obviously took the opportunity in the first two 50-over games against West Indies to give younger guys a chance for international experience both in terms of this year and our four-year cycle,” Walter mentioned yesterday.
“But for me this T20 series also provides an opportunity to get guys like Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Quinton de Kock and Rilee Rossouw back in the mix and get them ready for the Netherlands games.”
T20 focus
While the World Cup remained their focus this yr, nonetheless, Walter felt it was essential to not undermine the 20-over sport and so they hoped to make use of the three-match T20 series in opposition to West Indies to additional develop their talents within the shorter format.
“It’s always more serious than just having some fun. I think it’s about figuing out what the blueprint is in the T20 format of the game,” he mentioned.
“Obviously you will have much less time, so you must take extra dangers to get to the place you wish to be… however we’re all the time making an attempt to be taught and fine-tune what the top level will appear like.
“These games provide opportunities for our players to assess the conditions in front of them and understand the best version of their own games… and it’s about trying to create context for the guys to execute their skills. It’s all about the bigger picture.”
The first of three T20 matches between South Africa and West Indies shall be performed in Centurion on Saturday.
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