Faf not worried about alternate track

News

Cricket365
March 28, 2016

South Africa T20 skipper Faf du Plessis is not too worried about the changed deck in Nagpur ahead of their World Twenty20 match against the West Indies, and says it'll likely spin no matter what.

the ICC changed from one strip to another after a low-scoring affair between India and New Zealand, opting to use a less dry wicket for the Proteas. But Du Plessis feels the difference will be minimal.

They come into Nagpur after two very high-scoring matched at the Wankhede in Mumbai, where the Proteas scored over 200 twice, and Du Plessis is aware that it will be very different against the Windies.

Du Plessis said from Nagpur: "When we got here, on the first day of practice the wicket was very dry, and we just prepared ourselves accordingly to play on it.

"Obviously it's changed a bit now, we're not playing on the same wicket. We knew that the ground will be a lot different here than it was at Mumbai.

"So whether it was changed or not, it wouldn't have made too much difference to us. I assume that the reason they're changing it is to not be as dry, or not to spin as much as it possibly could have on that dry surface.

"But it's still two teams competing and possibly going to be a spinning deck, so I don't think too much will change."

He then emphasised the need to be flexible, and to adapt quickly in light of changing conditions: "I think for me what's been important, and I've spoken a lot about it to the guys, is the fact that we do rely as a team on being smart and to make the correct decisions on whatever the surface is on the day.

"I think if you consistently prepare for those sort of scenarios, where you need to adapt every day and you don't just rely on one gameplan and one specific batsman to come off, that's all you can do.

"As a team we do that very well, especially as a batting unit we adapt quickly and we're smart in our decision making. We've got guys that can play quite a few different roles and that's going to be the key here.

"If it's going to be a slow Bunsen burner, then we have to make the transition quicker than the West Indian team. Obviously they are a power-hitting team, so they realise their strength and also their weakness.

"But for us it's about being the smartest ones on the day."