Proteas captain Temba Bavuma says South Africa will have to adapt to the absence of several frontline fast bowlers when they begin their three-match ODI series against Australia on Thursday, 24 September.
South Africa head into the series without Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi, while Kwena Maphaka has also been ruled out and replaced by Lizaad Williams.
For a South African side traditionally built around its pace attack, Bavuma acknowledged that the situation is far from ideal.
“We definitely have to adapt. I mean, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, those are not guys that you can just replace at the top of the hat.
“We look into the depth that we have within our fast bowling resources and we call upon those guys to come in and play a role.
“Like I said, a guy like Lizaad Williams, he’ll definitely be someone who will play a role there. But yeah, it’s about us adapting. We’ll finalise our team, see what’s the best 11 that we can put forth considering the conditions.
“But yeah, we don’t have everything that we have, but in true South African fashion, we’ll have to make it work.”
‘It is concerning’
Bavuma did not attempt to downplay South Africa’s recent fast-bowling availability issues.
While the Proteas would ideally have their strongest attack available, he says work is being done to understand how the bowlers can be better managed.
“Yeah, it does make it a little bit more challenging. I think obviously you want your best players at your disposal all the time, as realistic or unrealistic as that may be. We are working tirelessly to kind of identify and define the problems that we have.
“It is concerning. I don’t think we shy away from that, but we are working together to see where is it that we can be a lot better in terms of managing the players.
“And saying that, it’s a wonderful opportunity for the individuals who will have to step up.
“Guy like Lizaad coming into the squad for Kwena Maphaka, yeah, we’re expecting those guys to step up and fill the shoes.”
South Africa’s fast-bowling DNA
Despite those absences, Bavuma doesn’t expect South Africa to move away from one of the defining characteristics of Proteas cricket.
“I think just the makeup of our team, right, as a South African team, we build it around our fast bowlers. We want teams when they come here to South Africa know that they’re going to have to deal with our fast bowlers.
“That’s part of our DNA. You need those guys fit and ready to go.”
The circumstances could mean additional responsibility for Marco Jansen and the other available seamers during the series.
Bavuma believes communication will be important if certain bowlers are required to carry a heavier workload.
“Yes, certain players will take on an extra bit of a load. I think as long as those players are aware, it’s communicated that this could be the case, it becomes easier for them at least mentally and physically to look after themselves off the field.
“You’ve got to carry the load for the team. So as long as that communication with Marco and whoever, or the other fast bowlers, that happens.”
South Africa also do not have the same luxury as Australia when it comes to rotating their pace attack.
“Unfortunately we don’t have that liberty at that point. I think we’re going to have to make the most of the bowling resources that we have.
“From the spin department, you know, there’s options there. I think it’s just how smartly we approach in terms of managing those loads of our fast bowlers.”
Bavuma wants ruthless Proteas batting
The absence of several bowlers does not mean Bavuma wants the batting unit to approach the series feeling additional pressure.
But if an opportunity arises to put Australia under significant scoreboard pressure, he wants the Proteas to take it.
“Look, you never really want to go in with that mindset, right? There’s enough pressure around the game as it is.
“But I think batters, we always know we need to give the bowlers something to bowl to, something to defend. Probably calls on us to be a little bit more ruthless.
“If there’s an opportunity to get a score over 350, we will do so.”
Bavuma remains confident that the bowlers who do take the field are capable of doing the job.
“The guys will come in as well. They’re super capable.
“So I think not to take anything away from the bowling attack that takes outfit on to tomorrow. There’s a lot of confidence that I and the rest of the team have in them.”
Hunger and desire could decide the series
Australia arrive with their own challenges and changes, but Bavuma believes the early stages of the series could prove important.
For South Africa, getting quickly back into the rhythm of international ODI cricket will be part of that challenge.
“I think the team with the most hunger and desire, to be honest with you.
“I think we’re going to need to find a way to hit the ground running quite early. A lot of us haven’t had that opportunity to kind of dust off the cobwebs outside of, I guess, the franchise leagues the guys have been playing, the domestic four-day game that some of us were involved in.
“And I think whichever team is able to kind of lay that foundation, lay that marker early, I think is the one that you’ll find will be victorious.”
South Africa’s preparation in Durban has also been affected by the weather.
“I think if I think of the preparation, probably hasn’t been ideal in Durban with the weather.
“I think the outdoor nets, we had a proper opportunity only yesterday. I’m not too sure where the Australians were with regards to that. So I think each team will have its challenges.
“But yeah, as international cricket does, you know, those challenges, who can adapt and have answers and solutions to them as quick as possible.”
Bavuma set for top three
There is also some uncertainty around exactly how South Africa’s batting order will look.
With Quinton de Kock among the options at the top, Bavuma expects to occupy one of the first three positions.
“I’ll most probably be there in that top three. Whoever I guess pairs up with Quinton at the top will decide.
“Shouldn’t really be of much consequence, but yeah, probably find myself somewhere in the top three.”
At this stage of his career, Bavuma says his personal objective is simply to maintain the standards he has established in ODI cricket.
“I think I’ve done decently well in ODI cricket.
“I think the only critical thing is for me to just keep the form that I’ve managed to kind of hold on to in the last couple of years.
“I think, obviously, as one of the older guys within the team, you always want to maintain a certain level of standard.
“You know, you’ve got the young guys who, I guess, who push you to another standard.”
The road to the 2027 World Cup
Thursday’s opening ODI is another step in South Africa’s longer journey towards a home World Cup in 2027.
Bavuma says there is already a general understanding of the core group the Proteas are building around, although opportunities will continue to be given to other players over the coming series.
“A little bit of both, I think. I think mentally, getting it around your mind, being in a World Cup, a home World Cup, what all of that means. I think that is a continuous or daily process that will follow.
“And then from a team perspective, I think, I mean, the core players, we generally know who those core players are. I don’t think we will move away too much from that.
“The series is up until the end of this cycle with England at the end, you know, there’ll be opportunities. We’ll see new faces coming in, but probably that England series will be closer to what we think will be for the World Cup.”
For now, though, Bavuma’s attention is firmly on Australia.
The Proteas ODI group has not been together for some time, and the captain senses an appetite within the squad to continue building on their recent performances in the format.
“Firstly, super excited to be together as a team again. It’s been a while since this ODI team has come together.
“I think there’s a strong desire to look after our ODI record of late and ensure that we’re putting our best foot forward out there on the field.
“I think for me personally, it’s been a super, super long break. So just to be out there again, running around, chasing after the balls with the guys, that’s something that I look forward to.
“Look forward to the competitive cricket.”
And with several key members of South Africa’s pace attack unavailable, the challenge facing Bavuma’s side is clear.
They will have to adapt, trust the players coming in – and, as their captain puts it, “in true South African fashion, we’ll have to make it work.”
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