Klaasen hopes Test win rubs off on T20 side
Zaahier Adams
Oh, how much would white-ball coach Rob Walter and stand-in T20 captain Heinrich Klaasen bottle up that magic potion the Proteas Test side are drinking from at the moment.
Whereas the Proteas Test side just completed their fifth Test victory on the bounce yesterday at St George’s Park to place them at the summit of the World Test Championship (WTC) table, the T20I team are still seeking their first bilateral series victory under Walter since his appointment last February.
Klaasen was certainly trying to get off that feel-good factor of the Test side to rub off on the white-ball team.
“They must be super happy. We’re very happy for them. We are all shouting for them for two more wins to go directly into the WTC final. They have been playing fantastic cricket,” Klaasen said.
“Hopefully, we can get another team into the final, and it can be third time lucky. They are grafting hard. Very happy for them.”
In first for South African cricket, the Proteas T20I team will be starting a three-match series against Pakistan today in Durban (start 6pm) – just a day after the Test series was completed in Gqeberha, which of course means that a few regulars will not be available for the T20Is.
While bemused by the scheduling of the fixtures, Klaasen is not overly perturbed as he understands the demands of modern-day international cricket. Equally, he feels that it allows for more players to be granted exposure to the highest level.
“This is the first time it has happened,” Klaasen said.
“The scheduling has been very interesting. That’s the way the world works. We saw last month we played India in a T20 series, and the next week an entirely different Test side played in Australia.
“It is normal these days. It gives a lot of guys opportunities, and you can explore the depth that you do have in the team.
“There are a lot of guys in the Test side that would be first-choice in this team, but Test cricket takes a lot out of you, and they need a rest. It is not always a bad thing, and gives players some well-deserved opportunities. A big December is coming up, so there is still lots of cricket to be played over the next few months.”
In the absence of Test heroes Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj, Tristan Stubbs, Aiden Markram and Marco Jansen, the Proteas team to take the field is set to feature a solid combination of experienced and young players looking to make their mark.
Klaasen is particularly excited about the return of spinner Tabraiz Shamsi and fast bowler Anrich Nortje, who have not played for the Proteas since the fateful ICC T20 World Cup final defeat to India back in July.
Equally, top-order batter Rassie van der Dussen’s recall is vitally important due to the veteran batter having played in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) the past two seasons against the likes of Mohammad Rizwan, Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi.
“It is fantastic that we have those guys back. Shammo is also back. Rassie is back. There are a lot of guys who have played against Pakistan - even in their domestic competition - so there is a lot of information there that the boys can share,” Klaasen said.
“But leaning on the senior players will be massive in this series. I need the players to step up and do the bulk of the work to take off the pressure off the youngsters.”
SQUADS FOR FIRST T20I AT KINGSMEAD
Proteas: Heinrich Klaasen (capt), Ottneil Baartman, Matthew Breetzke, Donovan Ferreira, Reeza Hendricks, Patrick Kruger, George Linde, Kwena Maphaka, David Miller, Anrich Nortje, Nqaba Peter, Ryan Rickelton, Tabraiz Shamsi, Andile Simelane, Rassie van der Dussen
Pakistan: Mohammad Rizwan (capt), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Jahandad Khan, Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain, Irfan Khan, Omair Bin Yousuf, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem, Tayyab Tahir, Usman Khan