Proteas death bowlers improving

 

While the back-of-a-length strategy was the key in the first One-Day International (ODI), the players will have to assess conditions early on in the second ODI against India at the Holkar Stadium in Indore on Wednesday.

 

“If we assess the conditions quickly enough it allows us to change our strategy accordingly,” Langeveldt said to the media in Indore on Tuesday. “We don’t stick to one element of death by only bowling yorkers. I always say to the players that the bowler who adapts the fastest will be the most successful on the day.

 

“There will be games where we will be required to bowl a few more yorkers so when we train we focus on different deliveries,” he explained. “We mix it up with slower balls, bouncers and yorkers, you might have a wicket that doesn’t suit back-of-a-length bowling so you need to adapt on the day.”

 

Langeveldt says the attack has been working hard on keeping their composure during the opening 10 overs and the last five overs where many matches are usually in the balance.

 

“In India you should never give up,” he said. “You are going to go for runs and the big saying for us on this tour is competing. We need to compete in each ball, even if you go for a six you need to come back in the next ball. You are going to go for runs so these are not going to be easy conditions to bowl in, but it’s important for us to enforce the mind set of competing in every ball; that is how you win games.”  

 

India’s Virender Sehwag scored a double-hundred in the last match played at the Holkar Cricket Stadium in 2011 and locals predict another high-scoring encounter at the ground where the hosts have won three out of three.

 

“It’s quite a small venue with short straight boundaries so it will be difficult for the bowlers,” Langeveldt said. “The bowlers will need to adapt to the conditions once the match starts.” 

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