By CricketCountry
Gerald Majola, CEO of Cricket South Africa (CSA) applauded the South African team’s 3-0 clean sweep in the One-Day International series against New Zealand.
Published: Mar 04, 2012, 02:50 PM (IST)
Edited: Mar 04, 2012, 02:50 PM (IST)
CSA chief Gerald Majola applauded coach Gary Kristen and captain AB de Villiers efforts of putting up a squad with great depth © Getty Images
By CricketCountry
Cape Town: Mar 4, 2012
Gerald Majola, CEO of Cricket South Africa (CSA) applauded the South African team’s 3-0 clean sweep in the One-Day International series against New Zealand.
South Africa defeated New Zealand by 5 wickets with 40 balls to spare at Eden Park in Auckland on Saturday.
“This is our finest ODI performance in New Zealand ever,” Majola was quoted in Sports24.
This is the first time in New Zealand that South Africa has completed ODI series without losing in any match.
“What has really impressed me is the fact that the team played the conditions so well, if anything better than the home side. This is a good indication that we have a team that is thinking on its feet and is playing the match situation rather than having a preconceived plan. This is an important change in mindset that Gary Kirsten, AB de Villiers and their support group have brought to the team.
“It reminds me of a quote by the great Jack Nicklaus: ‘You have to play the course the way it is and not the way you want it to be’.
“What has become equally relevant is the fact that Gary and AB have not just put an excellent XI on the field but have also started creating a squad with great depth.
“We went into this match without the likes of Jacques Kallis, Graeme Smith and Morne Morkel who have played well over 550 ODIs between them, yet it was business as usual with their replacements all making significant contributions. Marchant de Lange, in particular, is to be congratulated on taking four wickets on debut and being named Man of the Match.
The difference between the two teams has been the bowlers who took 29 wickets out of 30 in the series. Compared to them, New Zealand took only 13 wickets in the whole series. Moreover New Zealand was dismissed twice well inside the 50 overs.
“It has also been wonderful to see the unpredictable and challenging nature of many of our tactical decisions with Wayne Parnell, for instance, being used at the top of the order and Robin Peterson bowling regularly in the power plays and in the ‘death’ overs.
“The team now has excellent momentum going into the Test series and players and fans alike can look forward with confidence to the final phase of the tour.
“The Proteas have established themselves firmly as the No 2 ranked side on the ICC ODI rankings and there is an even bigger opportunity awaiting them in the Test series.”
