Batting coach JP Duminy says the more the Proteas’ rookies are exposed to foreign conditions and world-class the bowlers, the better they will become.
The Proteas have wilted in the face of a relentless Afghanistan spin onslaught and are staring a One-Day International series whitewash in the face following two blow outs at the Sharjah Stadium in the United Arab Emirates.
The Proteas lost the first match by six wickets after they were bowled out for 106 after winning the toss and batting first. In the second match, the Proteas were bundled out for 134 after being 73/1 chasing 311.
But the team’s batting failings are not something new. The Proteas have struggled in all formats of the game with the bat, even in their T20 World Cup run to the final they really struggled to get going with the willow.
The team is featuring a few newbies getting a chance in the absence of the likes David Miller and Heinrich Klaasen. Duminy says the only way the team is going to get better is by playing more matches against quality opposition and in unfamiliar conditions.
“I don’t think there is a definitive answer to that [the Proteas’ batting problems]. I think it’s a combination of things,” Duminy said.
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“Rob mentioned guys need to play more games ... if you think about this fixture itself, it wasn’t necessarily on the calender and fortunately we are playing Afghanistan in these conditions.
“What it allows for is exposure. It allows for guys to be playing in conditions that are foreign, but also playing against opposition players that you won’t play in South Africa.
“We are always going to be exposed if you are not exposed to something early on. I’m of the opinion that we are going to have to learn the hard way from a batting point of view.”
Duminy says batting collapses in the sub-continent are quite common because of the conditions, especially if you combine that will world-class spin bowling.
Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan took 5/19 on Friday night in the second ODI, with the Proteas batters unable to read to read his leg-spin.
“I have certainly had my own experiences as player when it comes to Sub-continent conditions where this can happen.
“We find ourselves in a position where we’re coming up against one of the best spinners in the world and, at times, guys found themselves in tricky situations where they didn’t pick him,” Duminy said.
“Unfortunately, when you’re indecisive in your movements, you can be caught off guard, and that’s where we find ourselves.
“There is no running away from a situation like this,” the former Proteas batsman added. “We were well below par in both games. We have to turn the mirror on ourselves and ask how we are going to get better.”
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