Batting coach of Proteas, Ashwell Prince, says that the Batting unit of South Africa will be encouraged to show intention in the upcoming ODI series against England, from 2 September.
South Africa arrives in England after the back of a 2-1 series victory in Australia, where a number of batters made begins, but no converted into centuries. For Prince, however, more than a personal monument has been run on the board.
“Maybe a bit disappointing that nobody scored a hundred,” Prince admitted. “But to be honest, the focus is more on making impact. We don’t necessarily want someone who is in the 1970s and 80s, only has a hundred in mind and takes care of it.
“We want to try to encourage, especially those guys in that phase of the innings, that if they like it, they put their foot down. And sometimes they will get a hundred. And if they don’t, if they bomb it, that’s the way the cookie crumbles.”
Prince explained that the aggressive blueprint of South Africa under head coach Shukri Conrad means that players will be forced to take advantage of opportunities, especially before the last Power Play.
“If you feel good and you want to take it on, at least do it,” he said.
The philosophy filters for individual players. Ryan Rickelton, who has fought since his return of a break for rhythm, has been encouraged to rediscover his natural aggression.
“The majority of communication is about trying to free people,” said Prince. “Rickelton is of course a positive player. But from the point of view of Shuk, he may want a little more aggression. Sometimes it can take time for people to settle in that mentality and style. But we do encourage that.”
The same applies to Tristan Stubbs, who has shown flashes of sparkle, but has struggled for consistency. Prince believes that a messy schedule between sizes may have played a role in his dip.
“Sometimes you can get a bit clouded in terms of your approach,” he said. “We try to encourage him to be a little freer, to be a little more positive, to be the man who is a bit of a scene in terms of his playing style.”
With Matthew Breetzke in form and Tony de Zorzi who knocks on the door, Prince says that the competition for battenspots is healthy, but the message remains the same: play with clarity and intention.
“When we compare the two sizes, when we have our meetings with the players, we try to illustrate that it is still 50-over game, there is still an element of Batsiemen, a little more like a batting of the test match,” Prince explained.
“We do not say that we are going in old school style. But we do acknowledge that when you start your innings, you still have to apply yourself as if it were a test match, especially against two new balls, against the right bowling. And then, when the opportunity occurs, you have to play freely and put your foot down.”
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