PROTEAS captain AB de Villiers said he got great satisfaction from seeing his team rise above pressure – and a lawless Shahid Afridi – to narrowly beat Pakistan at the Wanderers last Sunday, something the team has struggled with in the past.
Maintaining calm under fire was a sign of the team’s growth he said in the buildup to today’s fourth One-Day International at Kingsmead.
It is a trait that will come in handy with the ICC Champions Trophy in the UK in June fast approaching.
“It’s always very nice to lead by example and it gives me a lot of satisfaction to win a game like that,” said De Villiers.
“The thing I enjoyed the most was the fielding – I felt like it was my best game as captain that I’ve had so far. I really enjoyed the time out there and felt that I had more time. I used Graeme’s experience, which is always helpful in times of need.
“I thought we had a very good game. To defend a total like that on a flat wicket at the Wanderers was a great effort by the bowling unit and the whole team in the field. I felt we had the presence and drive to win an ODI for our country and that gave me a lot of satisfaction.
“I truly believe we’re heading in the right direction, especially on the bowling side of things. The guys come up with very clear game plans. They know exactly what they want to do. To defend a total like that was a huge step in the right direction. It has always been a worry in the past, the death overs.”
With De Villiers and Hashim Amla’s world record third-wicket partnership now a thing of the past, the skipper expected backlash from a Pakistan team that must win this game to keep the series alive.
“The Pakistan team has always been up and down but that makes them so dangerous. They are a very good ODI side though and have a lot of experience in their side and that always makes them dangerous,” said De Villiers.
“There is a good mixture of youth and experience in the team. It’s a matter of getting those experienced guys out of play and then we can make inroads. I’m expecting a big bounce back from them and the wicket looks like it might suit them quite well.”
And indeed the wicket looks like it will betray the Proteas by being spinner-friendly.
There was a tense meeting in the middle at Tuesday’s training session involving coach Gary Kirsten, team doctor Mohammed Moosajee and KwaZulu-Natal Cricket CEO Jesse Chellan discussing the treacherous state of the pitch and it’s lack of moisture.
De Villiers believes the state of the pitch is out of their control now and that he’d love nothing more than beating Pakistan on a turning track.
“The Kingsmead wicket looks a bit drier than normal and you never know what you’re going to get. If there is turn, we’ll just have to adapt as quickly as possible and beat them at their own game. That kind of win will give me a whole lot more satisfaction than beating them on a bouncy and pacey track,” he said.
AB seeks repeat dose of all-out war in Durban
Maintaining calm under fire was a sign of the team’s growth he said in the buildup to today’s fourth One-Day International at Kingsmead.
It is a trait that will come in handy with the ICC Champions Trophy in the UK in June fast approaching.
“It’s always very nice to lead by example and it gives me a lot of satisfaction to win a game like that,” said De Villiers.
“The thing I enjoyed the most was the fielding – I felt like it was my best game as captain that I’ve had so far. I really enjoyed the time out there and felt that I had more time. I used Graeme’s experience, which is always helpful in times of need.
“I thought we had a very good game. To defend a total like that on a flat wicket at the Wanderers was a great effort by the bowling unit and the whole team in the field. I felt we had the presence and drive to win an ODI for our country and that gave me a lot of satisfaction.
“I truly believe we’re heading in the right direction, especially on the bowling side of things. The guys come up with very clear game plans. They know exactly what they want to do. To defend a total like that was a huge step in the right direction. It has always been a worry in the past, the death overs.”
With De Villiers and Hashim Amla’s world record third-wicket partnership now a thing of the past, the skipper expected backlash from a Pakistan team that must win this game to keep the series alive.
“The Pakistan team has always been up and down but that makes them so dangerous. They are a very good ODI side though and have a lot of experience in their side and that always makes them dangerous,” said De Villiers.
“There is a good mixture of youth and experience in the team. It’s a matter of getting those experienced guys out of play and then we can make inroads. I’m expecting a big bounce back from them and the wicket looks like it might suit them quite well.”
And indeed the wicket looks like it will betray the Proteas by being spinner-friendly.
There was a tense meeting in the middle at Tuesday’s training session involving coach Gary Kirsten, team doctor Mohammed Moosajee and KwaZulu-Natal Cricket CEO Jesse Chellan discussing the treacherous state of the pitch and it’s lack of moisture.
De Villiers believes the state of the pitch is out of their control now and that he’d love nothing more than beating Pakistan on a turning track.
“The Kingsmead wicket looks a bit drier than normal and you never know what you’re going to get. If there is turn, we’ll just have to adapt as quickly as possible and beat them at their own game. That kind of win will give me a whole lot more satisfaction than beating them on a bouncy and pacey track,” he said.
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