The preparations for the T20 world cup are in full swing for the South Africa National team. The Proteas are always considered a contender for any major cricket tournament.
Betway team got the chance to interact with three south african players from the t20 world cup squad Temba Bavuma, Rassie van der Dussen and Keshav Maharaj. They talked to Betway about what’s going inside the South Africa’s T20 camp in the UAE and spoke about the team’s improvements in the last 12 months.
Talking to Van Der Dussen, who is South Africa's leading run scorer in the UAE this month, told us that he and his team mates are currently under the bio secure environment in Abu Dhabi Hotel and spending their time by watching TV, playing some fitness games and gym.
Talking to spinner Keshav Maharaj, he describes the makeshift setup as ‘not ideal’, but is also working to make the best of this unusual preparation.
He said “an entirely isolated existence is not healthy but it is what it is. He is a very clean and tidy person and in the absence of cleaners, he is taking on the responsibility and keeping his room in check.”
One look around the team gathering is enough to know that this squad is capable of replicating the Springboks’ success.
Van Der Dussen and Maharaj are both experienced cricketers, while Reeza Hendricks and Dwaine Pretorius have made great strides in the last 12 months, And , of course, Quinton de Kock, Kagiso Rabada and others will join the squad from the IPL.
Mark Boucher is overseeing the operation as head coach, while other previous Proteas JP Duminy and Charl Langeveldt are on the coaching staff.
The staff are all still relatively new to the job, but performances and results in 2021 show that South Africa’s trajectory may be on the up.
Victories in both Test and T20 series in the Caribbean were followed by T20 whitewashes of Ireland and Sri Lanka in July and September, suggesting that the squad is benefitting from approaching a major tournament with an extra 12 months of development behind them.
Van Der Dussen added, “we had a good last year and played in different conditions and performed well. In comparison to last year, we are more experienced and as a team in a good place now.”
Temba Bavuma took the permanent reigns as South Africa’s T20 skipper in March, overseeing a string of positive results since.
Temba said, “it was a surprise to me as well. Initially there was plenty of initial anxiety and pressure to take the team to new heights but now I am enjoying it.”
Having played with a lot of guys from school level, it became a little easy for me to develop understanding. When I entered into the national side the legends like AB de Villiers, Hashim Amla and Morne Morkel were there.
He further added, I drew a lot of experience playing with those legends and from Amla in particular. He is similar to me as a player, too, in the sense that he wasn’t considered a classic T20 player but remodelled his game. These experiences I am now passing to the rest of our squad.
But mental preparation is considered just as important as physical preparation for Van der Dussen, who is desperate not to burnout ahead of a busy few weeks of cricket.
“You put in all the hours that you need to,” he says, “and then on game night it’s pretty intense.
“I get my practise done and then mentally switch off so that next time I’m on the field my mind is 100 percent ready to go.”
It’s time to get browsing on Netflix, then.
South Africa T20 World Cup Full Squad:
Temba Bavuma (C) Quinton De Cock, Bjorn Forttuin, Reeza Hendricks, Heinrick Klassen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markaram, David Miller, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Dwaine Pretorious, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Rassie Van Det Dussen.
ICC T20 World Cup captain Temba Bavuma will lead South Africa at the upcoming tournament. His leadership ability is undeniable in stressful situations.
South Africa’s batting unit will be strengthened by some ballistic figures in the 2021 T20 World Cup, including the skipper himself, Quinton De Cock, Reeza Hendricks, and David Miller.
The pace bowling attack of South Africa is always a challenge. This squad is led by three dominant pacers: Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, and Anrich Nortje.
