Series defeat against Afghanistan ‘disappointing, but a catalyst for getting better and stronger’

Proteas head coach Rob Walter. (Photo: Lee Warren / Gallo Images)

23 Sep 2024

A largely experimental Proteas side was defeated 2-1 by Afghanistan in an ODI series. It was South Africa’s first defeat to the subcontinent side.

The Proteas suffered their first defeat to Afghanistan, in any format, which followed a first-ever series defeat to the same opposition in their three-match one-day international meeting.

A six-wicket defeat followed a 177-run defeat before South Africa picked a consolation seven-wicket win in the dead-rubber yesterday, thanks mainly to an excellent undefeated 69 off 67 deliveries by Aiden Markram.

In South Africa’s two previous meetings with Afghanistan in the ODI format – at the 2019 and 2023 Cricket World Cups – they beat the subcontinent side by nine wickets and five wickets, respectively.

But the Proteas side that played in the United Arab Emirates was different to those sides. Those teams were the best possible players South Africa could front up against Afghanistan, whereas this series has been used as a chance to experiment with the next tier of players by head coach Rob Walter.

Only Temba Bavuma, Aiden Markram, Andile Phehlukwayo and Lungi Ngidi were part of last year’s World Cup team as well as this past series.

Proteas head coach Rob Walter. (Photo: Lee Warren / Gallo Images)

All of Quinton de Kock, Rassie van der Dussen, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Gerald Coetzee, Keshav Maharaj and Kagiso Rabada were not part of the squad in an effort for Walter to test the next group of players in line.

It has not gone well.

“The series result is disappointing,” Walter said at the conclusion of the series.

“In particular the first two games where we exposed some of our depth and fringe players to play for South Africa, but ultimately we can only get better if we are exposed to conditions, and these were tough ones.

“Hopefully this is just a catalyst for us getting better and us getting stronger.”

Batting struggles

South Africa’s batting woes were exposed the most during the series, particularly their struggles against quality spin bowling.

In the first ODI, South Africa found themselves on 36 for seven in the 10th over, mostly due to their inability to pick the carrom ball of 18-year-old offspinner Allah Ghazanfar.

In the second ODI, After a solid 73-run opening stand between Bavuma and Tony de Zorzi, the side lost 10 wickets for 61 runs to be bowled out for 134. This time it was skipper Rashid Khan who ran through the batting line-up with a five-fer.

Over the past few years South Africa’s middle-order of Van der Dussen, Klaasen and Miller have been its best players of spin, regardless of the skill level. This time, the middle-order capitulated twice at the hands of quality spin bowling.

Tristan Stubbs and Kyle Verreynne, temporarily holding the fort in the middle, failed to score more than 10 runs between them in both of the first two matches. Jason Smith, coming in at six on debut in the first match, failed to get off the mark and was also bamboozled by Ghazanfar.

“If you look at the stats over the past couple of years, our spin play has actually been up there with the best in the world,” Walter said, when asked about spin possibly being his side’s Achilles heel. He was not referring to any of the players on tour.

“We have a group of players who have played a lot of cricket together for South Africa, experienced players who have been the bedrock of the batting line-up. Now we have different players stepping into that space and (they’re) obviously working hard to become better at playing spin.”

Walter also pointed out that the conditions in the UAE also helped Afghanistan’s slow bowlers.

“In terms of conditions, it’s quite hard to explain the toughness of the conditions in the subcontinent and the different nature of the spin bowlers,” the white-ball coach said.

“We faced a mystery spinner in game one who we hadn’t seen before (Ghazanfar). Rashid Khan in the second game — he’s a world-class leg spinner – even tougher under lights when it’s difficult to pick his variations.

“We were exposed to that and we weren’t able to deal with it, but ultimately the only way to get better is through exposure, so hopefully that will be the starting point of our next-in-line guys being better at playing spin.”

Looking ahead

South Africa’s next challenge is a two-match T20I series against Ireland, also taking place in the UAE before immediately going into a three-match ODI series against the same opposition.

The squads are largely similar to the side that took on Afghanistan, but there is reinforcement in the ODI side with Van der Dussen being called into it.

“While we are handing out opportunities, we’re not casting the net too wide,” Walter said about handing opportunities to players to grow depth.

“We still want – while gaining experience – to make sure we’re doing so in a measured fashion.

“So not handing out too many different caps to different players, but building on the experiences that the guys have gained out of these matches.

“We’re hoping that they’ll take this experience into the Ireland series. That’s important.” DM

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Batting struggles