Batting woes continue to blight Proteas’ progress

There’s no “definitive” answer to the Proteas’ batting woes, limited-overs batting coach JP Duminy has acknowledged, citing a combination of issues that has players and coaches scratching their heads. 

With the fate of the series against Afghanistan already decided, it will take more than just winning today’s dead-rubber in Sharjah to dismiss the growing feeling that South Africa’s batting in general is a mess.

“The players are in a difficult position,” Duminy said on Saturday.

Duminy — who played more than 300 times for the Proteas, including in 199 ODIs — said a general malaise was afflicting batters including a lack of match time, particularly at domestic level, along with a general absence of form among players in the current squad. “These players are not living up to the mark,” he said. 

The numbers bear that out. Afghanistan’s batters have made two fifties and a century in the series, compared to just one fifty from a Proteas batter. But the problems haven’t started on this tour, and aren’t only reflected in performances in Sharjah. 

Five of South Africa’s lowest 11 ODI totals have come in the last two years, and teams that have been involved in those poor displays included experienced batters like David Miller and Heinrich Klaasen, who are both missing the Afghan series. 

On home soil, Sri Lanka A recently completed two series wins against a South Africa A side in One-Day and Four-Day matches, comfortably out-batting the South Africans in both formats. 

In the Four-Day matches, South Africa A’s batters scored three fifties and one hundred compared to four fifties and three centuries for the Sri Lankans. In the One-Dayers it was eight half-centuries for the Sri Lankans and just two for the South Africans, along with a hundred for David Bedingham.

Duminy mentioned deeper issues, without going into much detail, but concurred with Proteas white ball coach Rob Walter, who said players weren’t playing enough matches. 

That issue has also been highlighted by domestic coaches, with the Lions’ Russell Domingo telling the Sunday Times last week local players “have got to play more games”. 

Although Cricket SA is cash flush, that money has to sustain the sport over the next four years, a period that encompasses the 2027 Cricket World Cup, which will also pinch CSA’s budget in the next two years. 

In the meantime, the Proteas need to address problems now, so confidence isn’t fractured any further. “We have to admit we’re in a developmental phase. However, that doesn’t exclude the idea that we have to win games,” said Duminy.

We have to back our skills and see how we can be more proactive, rather than reactive

—  Proteas batting coach, JP Duminy

After today’s match, South Africa have six ODIs remaining this year, with the three-match series against Pakistan in December likely to see the return of Klaasen, Miller, Kagiso Rabada and Keshav Maharaj, as part of the final preparations ahead of the Champions Trophy in Pakistan.

That means opportunities for the players currently in the squad are limited. 

Exposing them to slow, spin-friendly conditions — where someone like Rashid Khan, who took 5/26 on Friday, thrive — is exactly the kind of accelerated development Walter, Duminy and director of cricket Enoch Nkwe hope will lead to improvement. “Experience counts for nothing if it doesn’t make you better,” said Duminy.

“We have seen improvements from game one to game two in different phases of the game, but we were still far from good enough, and that is something we have to admit.” 

Duminy said there had been a number of team meetings in the last week and more would follow before today’s encounter. “We will reflect on options and executions. We have to back our skills and see how we can be more proactive rather than reactive.”