The Proteas have another triumph in their sights when they return to Lord’s on Thursday for the second ODI against England, but will have to do so without Tony de Zorzi after the top-order batter was ruled out of the remainder of the series due a hamstring strain.
The glorious memories of the World Test Championship final of just under two months ago will still be fresh in the minds – although the Proteas will now be back in the away dressing room after enjoying the comforts of the home change room against Australia.
While an ODI series may pale in comparison to playing for the ICC’s golden Test mace, the Proteas’ white-ball record in England leaves a lot to be desired, and they now have an opportunity to win just their second series in the UK after thumping their hosts in the opener in Leeds on Tuesday.
Keshav Maharaj was once again the chief-destroyer with the ball, underlying his status as the premier 50-overs bowler in world cricket, with another magical spell of 4/33.
The left-arm spinner is certainly looking to continue this form at Lord’s as the Proteas seek to close out their second successive ODI series on foreign soil under coach Shukri Conrad.
“I think the plans have been really good, but I think the way in which we execute our plans has been that much more encouraging. The guys have been putting in a lot of work not just in the series now, prior to the series, but obviously prior to Australia,” Maharaj said.
“There’s been some good camps that have been implemented and working with the bowling coach and things like that. It’s simple plans, but it’s nice to see that the mindset change towards coming together as a bowling unit.
“But I think every game is a new start, so for us as well as England, obviously go back to the drawing board and see where the areas in which we can improve and obviously there will be a good game of cricket at Lord’s come Thursday.”
Conrad’s charges certainly looked like a well-oiled unit that have been working together since the WTC Final with tours to Zimbabwe and Australia subsequently.
Their opponents, meanwhile, looked disjointed, and very much like the fact they were only cobbled together for just two days after the The Hundred final at Lord’s on Sunday.
Only seven players trained together in the build-up to the opener at Headingley and will now have just one travel day back to London to prepare for the next contest.
The Proteas have experienced all this before when they faced England in a must-win series, sandwiched between two halves of the inaugural Betway SA20, to qualify for the 2023 World Cup.
Maharaj, therefore, doesn’t want to dwell too much on the seven-wicket victory at Leeds and believes Harry Brook’s side certainly have the potential to bounce back on Thursday.
“I don’t think you see many cricket games (Headingley) go this way. Obviously, they’ve come off the local competition in The Hundred, so maybe resting a few bodies,” he said.
“The amount of cricket that’s ahead for them, probably looking at the bigger picture to everything.
“But no, I think if you look at their squad, it’s still a strong squad within that. A couple of new names to us, but still guys that have more than enough capabilities of dominating international cricket.”
De Zorzi injured his hamstring while fielding in the first ODI and will return home with no replacement called for due to fellow top-order batter Matthew Breetzke having recovered from his hamstring strain and will be available for selection at Lord’s.
Breetzke has been in record-breaking form after becoming the first batter to register scores in excess of 50 in his first four ODIs.
Full Proteas squad for 2nd ODI at Lord’s
Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton (wkt), Temba Bavuma (captain), Dewald Brevis, Tristan Stubbs, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Matthew Breetzke, Wiaan Mulder, Senuran Muthusamy, Corbin Bosch, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Nandre Burger, Kwena Maphaka, Lungi Ngidi.
Start: 2pm; TV: SuperSport
