DURBAN – The Dolphins start a brave, new era on Friday, as Khaya Zondo leads them into battle for the first time on an official basis, against the dangerous Titans. The contest is the opening match of the Momentum One-Day Cup, the final trophy on offer this season.
The message that has come out of Kingsmead over the last few days since Zondo was formally announced as taking over from Morne van Wyk have spoken of taking the initiative, being first to the punch or, failing that, learning to absorb the pressure.
“Whenever we have played Titans, it is always a good game. We just need to be aware and engaged in the game, because they are not walkovers. When we have played them, it is usually one moment that decides it, so we need to make sure that we are at our best,” Zondo said of their opponents.
While the skipper was looking forward, coach Grant Morgan took a final look back at the previous competitions.
“Our four-day processes were very good. With no disrespect to the Knights, the Titans and the Cobras, who all finished above us, I thought we were better than a fourth place finish,” Morgan bemoaned.
“I know everyone had their sad stories about the weather, but with a bit of luck, we could have been even better than third.”
What both coach and new captain agree on is that the Dolphins need to start getting their retaliation in first, and become frontrunners, instead of always trying to claw their way back into matches.
“There is no reason we can’t be leading from the front. Everyone knows that the Titans are great frontrunners, so we also have to start playing like front-runners,” Morgan insisted.
“We want to get in front, and to embrace being in front. We don’t want to be just a side with good character, always fighting back.”
Zondo, in his first press call as official Dolphins captain, played a straight bat, but mentioned that he aready had shared some of his goals with his team.
“If players are performing, they can make me look good as a captain. One thing I have always said is that I would like to have a lot more Proteas coming from the Dolphins,” said the one time Proteas squad member.
Though many have gone on to regard Zondo’s cap-less trip to India in 2015 as an opportunity missed, the Dolphins leader still maintains that he learnt a heck of lot sharing a dressing-room with modern greats.
“When you get to the next level, you realise that the best on the world train even harder than you! So who are you not to train harder?,” he challenged.
The best thing a captain can do – especially at the start of his tenure – is to lead by example. Zondo, after a profitable Sunfoil Series stint, wants to keep that going in white-ball cricket.
“Obviously I have to keep putting the results on the table with the bat.”
He also paid tribute to Morne van Wyk, the man who passed over the leadership to him.
“For him to stand down now, it means a lot. It shows that herusts my captaincy and my leadership qualities. It has been a very easy transition,” he smiled.
The real challenge starts on Friday, when the Titans take aim at the new leader and his team. Zondo is relishing the prospect.
“They are one of the best in the country, so if we can win that game, then we know we are in the right direction,” he argued.
The Titans and the Dolphins lock horns at Centurion on Friday afternoon, to open the Momentum One-Day Cup campaign.