CRICKET NEWS - The Standard Bank Proteas enter the Sunfoil test series against Bangladesh starting at Senwes Park in Potchefstroom on Thursday with a determined hunger to return to winning ways.
The 3-1 loss to England in August put an end to the Proteas’ proud winning streak of four consecutive series wins, a rally the squad is motivated to resume.
The selectors have continued with the consistency in selection that has been the backbone of the squad’s success in the past year, with newly appointed head coach, Ottis Gibson, bringing in fresh perspective and ideas.
Proteas fast bowler Kagiso Rabada believes the current mix of players and coaching staff is the perfect balance to revive their winning ways.
“We have just gotten back together after a break and there is a new coach which is exciting,” he said in Potchefstroom on Tuesday.
“ You can tell that it is a new beginning with the same team, there are only a couple of new faces.
"At the same time we still have our old coaching staff, only the head coach is new. It feels like a new beginning with the same people. We will be settling in and this match will help immensely.
“Things like that happen in cricket,” he said of the disappointing series against England.
“We know we are a talented side and we have good skills. We want to get back on our feet, in England I don’t think we played bad cricket, we were on the wrong end of some important moments.
"We have recognised that, and will be looking to pounce on them (moments) and get back to our winning ways, we certainly know how to win.
“Everyone has a drive to want to win,” he explained. “ That is what we want to do, we want to play good cricket after a long break. We are going to have to get back to it quickly, that is the challenge.”
Rabada and Morne Morkel will carry the fast-bowling mantle in the absence of Dale Steyn and Vernon Philander, which will be another opportunity to grow and expose the pace resources in the Proteas setup.
