“These days you don’t have easy games anymore, especially not away from home,” said Proteas batsman, Rassie van der Dussen, ahead of the first ODI between South Africa and Ireland at The Village in Dublin.

Having played at the Civil Service Cricket Club in Stormont, Belfast, a few years ago, van der Dussen is familiar with the playing conditions, as well as the development of the Ireland cricket team.

“They’re a team that has come leaps and bounds in the last few years. Seeing where they’ve come from and where they are now as a team, it’s a really exciting prospect.”

Although Ireland was only recently awarded Full Member status, van der Dussen is fully aware of the challenge ahead of South Africa.

“We know this is a massive series for them, and they’re going to throw everything they have at us,” cautioned van der Dussen.
Van der Dussen expects conditions to be favourable for batting through the course of this series.

“In general, this time of year in Ireland, the weather should be okay. The conditions will be good for batting. A lot more batter conducive than we had in the West Indies.”

Although South Africa won the T20 series against the West Indies, van der Dussen said the middle and lower-order batting could be better. “That was probably one area in the West Indies we weren’t happy with. The last five overs in all the matches, we came up a bit short.”

However, he believes the ODI series will give South African batsmen the opportunity to bat longer and find some form again. “The skills are definitely transferable in 50-over cricket. In general, in 50-over cricket, you have a few more balls to get used to the conditions and work out what will be a good score.”

Asked whether an ODI series is ideal preparation for T20 cricket, van der Dussen reflected, “You’ve got 10-15 balls in a T20 match, whereas in 50-over cricket, you’ve got time to bat. You’ve got a bigger scope to identify where your game is at. You’ve got time to get yourself in and then play your game from there.”