Proteas look to Springboks for inspiration to bounce back against Ireland

1 Oct 2024

Proteas are looking to secure their first white-ball series win in over a year when they face off in three ODIs against Ireland.

The Proteas head into their One Day International (ODI) series against Ireland off the back of losing their first-ever T20I match against the European side. A week prior they lost a match and subsequently a series to Afghanistan for the first time ever when the two teams faced off in an ODI series.

It’s a downward spiral that Proteas skipper Temba Bavuma is looking to nip in the bud by looking at the national rugby side, the Springboks, as inspiration.

The World Champion Springboks lost 29-28 to Argentina in Santiago del Estero two weeks ago before returning home to smash Los Pumas 48-7 in Mbombela.

“The Springboks are the epitome of success at the moment,” Bavuma said at a pre-match press conference from the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday.

“Not just in South Africa, across the globe, from a sporting point of view.

“Us, like many sporting teams, will take a lot of lessons from them. Whether from a coaching front or a player front. There’s a lot that you can learn from that team.

“The biggest thing with them, they always seem to find a way when things are not going their way.

“There’s also that belief that they’ll always win, irrespective of what situation they find themselves in.

“If there’s anything that we can take as a Proteas team, it would be that.”

Contrasting streaks

The Springboks won Rugby World Cup in 2019 in Japan and again in 2023 in France. It has seen the Springbok brand and its following expand exponentially over the past few years.

The Proteas conversely, despite making the final of the T20 World Cup earlier this year and the semifinal of the 50-over World Cup last year, have last won a white-ball series in September 2023.

“Results are important and I saw it when I was back home now and I was watching the Springboks,” Bavuma, who did not play in the T20I series against Ireland, said.

“It’s almost like the whole world stops when the Springboks are playing and that’s obviously because the guys are winning.

“Everyone is really behind the team and that’s not to say that everyone’s not behind the Proteas, but just in terms of the winning and the effect it has on everything.

“Winning will always be one of the most important things for us.”

Winning, though, despite Bavuma emphasising its importance, has been put on the back burner while growing the depth within the squad has been prioritised in recent times.

According to the captain, many regular faces are playing their last few years of international cricket and those who have been given opportunities across the last 12 months are there to step up into those positions.

“We have a lot of older guys within the team who, in two to three years’ time, you may not see,” Bavuma explained.

“We need to make sure that when that happens, you have guys who at least have gotten a taste of international cricket and who will be better positioned to fit into those guys’ shoes.”

Stepping up

The question, however, remains on how prepared the next tier of players are, who have cut their teeth at domestic level. Prior to the Afghanistan series defeat, the Proteas were whitewashed by West Indies twice, either side of the T20 World Cup, in a T20I series.

“I don’t think the results you see are a true reflection of the team and talent on display at home,” Bavuma said.

“You’re never ready for international cricket until you play, that’s how I felt.

“I played a few seasons at domestic level, scored runs and then got my opportunity.

“I never felt really ready. Some other guys come on to the scene and they shoot lights out from the beginning, whereas other guys take a little longer.

“The unfortunate bit is the guys are not playing enough cricket, for whatever reason, and that doesn’t help when guys are coming up to this level.

“That is where you are selecting players from.”

The ODI squad selected to play against Ireland is not only young but also largely inexperienced. Only Andile Phehlukwayo and Rassie van der Dussen have played more than 50 games for the country in the format.

While more than half of the squad has less than 10 caps to their name.

However, according to Bavuma, this is the last series where the side will be experimenting with its composition given that the Champions Trophy, set to be hosted in Pakistan, will take place at the start of next year.

“This is probably the last series where the theme will be about increasing player depth, development and all those types of things,” the captain explained.

“It’s one more chance for those younger guys to really put up their hands and show that they can be part of the team in a strong way.”

The ODI match between the Proteas and Ireland gets under way at 1pm tomorrow at the Zayed Cricket Stadium in the United Arab Emirates. DM

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South Africa

Contrasting streaks

Stepping up