The Proteas will be hoping to hit the ground running when they face Sri Lanka in their T20 World Cup opener at the unknown Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York, United States on Monday afternoon (start 4.30pm SA time).
The Proteas’ preparations haven’t been great, losing their three warm-up games against the West Indies with a largely second-string team 3-0, while some key players arrived late from the Indian Premier League.
The team also had some injury concerns, with spearhead Kagiso Rabada and wrist-spinner Tabraiz Shamsi not featuring in the warm-up matches.
A feature of the series defeat at the hands of the Windies was the Proteas inability to adapt to conditions in Jamaica, especially with the ball.
The Proteas will play 3 of the 4 group games in New York, and played an internal game at the stadium last week to assess conditions. This game gave them some info ahead the Sri Lankan challenge.
“If I take a look at how we operated in our internal match, the wicket looks pretty good for batting,” captain Aiden Markram told SportsBoom.com.
“I don’t think the wicket will be as quick as they are at home (South Africa) and Australia. We will have to pick up as much info as possible, watch other teams warm up matches that will be played in New York where we will be playing our games.
“We certainly have to adapt a lot quicker than we used to in conditions we don’t know. Coach Rob [Walter] will be heading to watch the warm up matches in New York, but we will be here watching on the TV, as we will be training here before our first game,” Markram added.
South Africa missed out on the semi-finals in the previous two editions of the T20 World Cup in the India and Australia. But there is a belief that they have the fire power to go all the way in the West Indies and United States.
#GetToKnow Proteas bowler Ottneil Baartman ⚡️
Keep an eye out for the Oudtshoorn-born speedster who will be playing in his first @T20WorldCup for the Proteas! #WozaNawe #BePartOfIt pic.twitter.com/G9RigGD6aH
That fire power comes in the form of a destructive batting line-up, with a top six who can dominate any attack. However, there is some concern around the seamers, who weren’t particularly good against the Windies.
“I definitely feel we have what it takes to win the World Cup, it is the World Cup and the level of cricket is high,” said Markram.
“This group has been together for quite a few years and we have shown in many performances that we are capable in beating the best in the world.
“I am quietly confident this team has what it takes to win the first elusive one and potentially quite a few will follow after that.”
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