The most necessary aspect of South African captain Dean Elgar‘s third test preparation will be to remind his players they aren’t “crap cricketers” after two straight wallopings which have uncovered a one-time powerhouse as cricketing battlers.
Trying to place the frustration of a crushing collection loss into phrases, understanding the vacationers needed to decide themselves as much as go once more on the SCG, Elgar declared that “playing for the badge” could be a theme of discussions along with his males earlier than they take to the sphere in Sydney.
Bronx cheers ringing across the MCG because the Proteas handed 200 for simply the primary time in eight check innings, and solely minutes earlier than the beating was full, was a low mark for a crew which took down the Australians the previous 3 times they toured.
While all proof suggests his batters are lower than the extent required to compete, and with Elgar lamenting ongoing points with the cricket system in his homeland, the skipper stated boosting their confidence reasonably than lamenting every part that has gone unsuitable was the one method ahead.
“For me it‘s about that positive affirmation that you have to give to the greater group,” Elgar stated.
“I‘m not gonna go away from that because I still feel the guys that we have, they’re talented cricketers but they obviously just lack that experience at the test level.
“You have to still keep the encouragement and keep reminding the guys that they‘re not crap cricketers, let’s put it that way, and to be blunt.”
Through two accomplished checks, keeper Kyle Verreynne is their main run scorer, and solely he and Temba Bavuma have greater than 100 runs. David Warner outscored them each in a single innings.
But other than quick bowler Anrich Nortje, who rocked the Australians with repeated spells of bowling David Warner declared was the quickest he’d ever confronted, the a lot vaunted South African assault hasn’t fired as hoped.
Elgar conceded Kagiso Rabada, who completed 2022 because the equal –main wicket taker in check cricket, however went for 5 runs an over on the MCG, could also be flagging after a giant 12 months.
But he additionally stated his No.1 strike bowler would need to “push himself until he breaks” in obligation for his nation, an element Elgar is counting on from all his gamers in Sydney.
The captain stated his males have been now “playing for pride” with the collection gone, hoping that would give them the aggressive edge they’ve lacked up to now.
“We’ve got to believe that we can still bounce back and put up a massive effort for the third test,” Elgar stated.
“Playing for pride is of utmost importance for us going forward. There‘s a lot of guys hurting, I can tell you that.
“So going forward, I‘m sure that conversations are going to be … that’s what we play for now, we’re playing for the badge. And we need to try and restore a little bit of pride that maybe has been hurt over the last two weeks.”
