SA must capitalise on AB’s stature

Bengaluru: Kolkata Knight Riders' Jacques Kallis during a practice session on the eve of the IPL 7 Final match at M Chinnaswamy stadium in Bengaluru on Saturday. PTI Photo by Shailendra Bhojak(PTI6_1_2014_000037A)

A.B. de Villiers is one of the most-intimidating cricketers in the world. South Africa need to capitalise on that and use it to their advantage. 

 The man himself is naturally modest, humble, so the idea of ‘imposing’ himself and his reputation doesn’t automatically occur to him. But that doesn’t mean it can’t be used as a strategy. It is something we should consider. 

Those players who bat before him can attack and put the bowlers under pressure, safe in the knowledge that the captain is still to come. AB can play every sort of innings, at any pace required, including at a faster pace than anyone else on earth. 

Most intimidating

He can’t succeed every time, of course, but — like Chris Gayle, Brendon McCullum and perhaps David Warner, and a few others — the reputation can affect the attitude and performance of the opposition. And AB’s must be more intimidating than anyone’s at this moment. 

The size and significance of the defeat to India has now been wiped out. It clearly hurt AB a lot to lose to India by 130 runs and he made no secret of the fact. To hit back with a victory by 257-runs against the West Indies probably exceeded even his own wildest dreams. 

Finishing top of Group B would be good for both India and South Africa, but India have the inside track. A top-two finish, however, is likely to be good enough to avoid a quarter final against Australia or New Zealand. It is true that a team has to “beat the best to be the best” but that doesn’t mean they should take anything for granted. 

Group ties as important

If winning Group games means a smoother path in the knock-out games, which it almost certainly does, then they are almost as important as the knockout games themselves. 

South Africa’s squad and the permutations for the final XI are more flexible than I can ever remember. There used to be a couple of like-for-like swap options, but the basic balance was always secure. Now they are back to the “extra batsman” or “extra bowler” option — combined with the consideration on how much of a bowler, or batsman, certain players are. 

For many years we grew comfortable with our selection. Three or four allrounders always helped. Now things are different and there has to be an element of creativity in selection. Instead of that being a ‘problem’, I get the feeling it is being treated as a challenge that has to be met. I’m enjoying that positive approach. 

— Hawkeye/Chivach Sports