Follow UsSouth Africa head coach Rob Walter asserted that he and his side are keen to just think about themselves and not India after he was asked about the advantage the Men in Blue hold playing all their games in this Champions Trophy in Dubai.
India playing all their games in Dubai has been a hot topic this week, and, yesterday, South Africa batter Rassie van der Dussen claimed that the 2023 ODI World Cup Finalists have a ‘definite’ advantage staying in one hotel and playing all their games at one venue, completely cutting out all travel.
But Walter did not want his side to spend their energy thinking about another team.
“To be honest with you, I think if we spend our energy worrying about a disadvantage, we spend less energy thinking about ourselves and what we need to be doing,” Walter said ahead of the England game.
“The scheduling is the scheduling. India obviously have been in Dubai in the same venue, in the same place, and other teams haven't. Whether that turns out to be an advantage or not will remain to be seen.
“What I do know is that we have to concentrate on what we're doing. We have to concentrate on spending all our energy thinking about how we're going to get through our next step, which is England, and then wherever that takes us from there.”
South Africa need a win tomorrow (March 1) against England to not just confirm qualification but also top the table. And that might be crucial, if they want to stay back in Pakistan and avoid playing India in the semi-final in Dubai.
The good news for the Proteas is that, for the England clash, they will have the services of Heinrich Klaasen, who missed the first game against Afghanistan due to an elbow injury.
Walter was full of praise for Klaasen, and termed him a game-changer who is truly up there with the best in the business.
“Yeah, I mean he's a super player isn't he?,” Walter said, speaking of Klaasen.
“And I think that you probably notice his strength also based on who the guys are around him that allow him to play that way. Obviously he's got a skillset at the moment that is right up there with the world's best, I think we all agree with that. And it's great to have him in your team because you know how destructive he can be.
“But all that said is that I know that the way he plays and the destructive nature of his game is also based on the confidence of the people around him and the way that they play. And so, the whole piece of the puzzle is important in allowing him and freeing him up to play the best version of his game and be his best version.
“So, look it's exciting for everyone when he does play that way and certainly hoping for a number of those knocks in the next 10 days or so.”
He also lavished praise on skipper Temba Bavuma, who has an exceptional ODI record. Bavuma, having already led South Africa to the World Test Championship (WTC) Final, is now eyeing to take the Proteas deep in the Champions Trophy.
“I mean, apart from being a wonderful batsman, which we have seen again as Temba has shown in Test matches as well as in one-day cricket, he can find a method to score in all conditions,” Walter said.
“Sometimes in one day cricket, being at the top of the order is where everyone wants to be, but on other days it's not as easy. But he's still there, and he still has the game to deal with the different conditions.
“He's got an exceptionally steely resolve really, great resilience personally as a person who's had to deal with a lot in South Africa and carry a lot in South Africa and still find a way to deliver on the field.”