South Africa over the course of two T20Is have looked like a complete outfit. If the bowling faltered in the first T20I, the batting backed it up by chasing a huge total at Dharamsala. It was some disciplined bowling in the second T20I that got them over the line; in the bargain clinching the series 2-0. Unfortunately there was no game possible in the final T20I due to a wet outfield at the Eden Gardens and with that the visitors held the trophy high taking with them a lot of positivity into the ODIs. “We spoke long and hard coming here that it is important the way we start in the series especially because it is quite a long tour,” man of the series JP Duminy said. “It can get quite painful if you start off in the wrong fashion. We are happy the way we have started but we also know that there is a lot of hardwork ahead of us. It is going to be a hard fought ODI series leading into the Test series,” he added.
Even though India had been outplayed in the two T20Is, Duminy expected them to come back strong and put up a better show in the 50-over format. For Duminy and company it was a case of a job half done. “As a team, we definitely expect them to put in a big performance in the two series. We know that they are a great ODI team so it is important for us to start off well in the ODI series. Yes, it was important for us to start well but we are under no illusion that it is going to be a walkover in the ODI series. We know that we have to fight hard and play well and take it one game at a time. Our focus is on Kanpur and hopefully we can start off well in that series as well.”
Duminy also reiterated the fact that the win in the first T20I proved to be a catalyst for a better show in the next T20I at Cuttack. “I think the first win was a big one for us especially the way we finished the game. 200 was a stiff target and chasing that gave us a lot of confidence going into the second T20I. We knew going into the second game that we needed to improve as a bowling unit. That was a big plus for us; the way we bowled and the discipline we showed within our bowling department. That is going to be a big tick for us in the T20 format. With the results that we have got here now, will give us a lot of confidence going into the T20 series against England and Australia and obviously the World cup coming in a few months.”
Though the middle-order batsman joked around changing nappies during the team’s time off cricket, he was happy that the team came to India on a long tour with a lot of mental freshness. Something that was important to keep them in the right frame of mind before the start of the series. “It was great for the guys to press the refresh button and just mentally get away from the game. Sometimes that can be a good thing for you. Coming here, most of the guys were pretty fresh and excited to be playing cricket again. Leading up to that week before that first game, we knew that it was important the way we started. We came up with a good word in terms of how we wanted to go about it; we wanted to compete in every department; whether it was on the field or with the ball or bat. If we can compete for the majority of the game, we give ourselves a good chance of coming out on top.”
Personally, Duminy was happy the way he was contributing in the team’s cause but still had that hunger to contribute as much as possible in whatever capacity he could. “I still believe that there is a lot more to come from myself and I can still contribute a lot more; not only with the bat but also with the ball. I guess the key for me is to stay hungry to perform for the team and putting in big performances. That first game is definitely a step in the right direction for my confidence especially the way we finished.”
South Africa have been known to be good travelers of India and in the past put up notable wins in all formats of the game. When asked what made the side so good while traveling to different parts of the world Duminy said, “We enjoy each other’s company. It doesn’t matter which part of the world we are in. No matter what challenges we face, we face it head on. There are not too many arguments going on in the team room. We find ways of enjoying ourselves in a long tour. That is important for us especially when you are coming to a place where there is not a lot to do outside the hotel and you are coming to a place for such a long period of time. It can get you down at times; so it is important that we gel as a unit and gel as a team. We have got a great camaraderie within the team and everybody plays for one another. Everybody wants each other to do well and we enjoy each others’ successes. That is an important component for a successful team.”
