South African head coach Mark Boucher admitted that his team’s performance was affected by the bio-bubble challenges and anxiety over violence rocking their country after the tourists managed to level the three-match ODI series against Ireland on Friday (July 16).
The Proteas side lost the second ODI to Ireland on July 13 after the first ODI was abandoned due to rain, but they made a comeback in the final game to level the ODI series 1-1 with a 70-run victory on Friday.
Apart from the challenges to move from one bubble to another – recently from the West Indies to Ireland, riots in the country has played a role in the team’s lackluster showing in Ireland, said Boucher.
Protests began last week after former President Jacob Zuma surrendered himself to police to serve a 15-month sentence for contempt of court following his denial to appear at an anti-corruption commission to face several allegations, including bribery and fraud.
For the last week, protesters and looters have set malls ablaze, blocked major roads, and clashed with police to demand Zuma's release, which caused food and medical shortages, while more than 200 people have lost their lives so far in the worst violence the country has seen in years.
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As reported by ESPNcricinfo, Boucher said: “We weren't there the other day. Our awareness was down; our intensity was down. We looked at quite a few things without making excuses. We had a long chat after the game and we said, 'Guys we are in a position where we can't afford to make excuses. You are playing for your country and you have to be up every game’.”
On the long bio-bubble life in the COVID-19 era, the coach noted: “I have to look at the reasons why we were flat. It could be that coming off a good win against the West Indian team -- usually, you get a bit of time to take that in and get away for a while -- maybe a week or two and we didn't have that opportunity. As soon as we got that win, guys were packing and we got onto a plane and we flew for two days and got back into another bubble.”
The Proteas cricketers sported the black armbands to show solidarity with the victims of violence in Gauteng and Kwa-Zuly Natal provinces back home in the final ODI against Ireland.
Boucher signed off by saying, “To say it's not affecting us is not true. It is affecting us and every South African. Today we came out and showed when we put our minds to it and we play with good energy, we were there but when the game was sort of won, we took our foot of the gas again, which was a bit disappointing. We didn't end off the game as we wanted to.”
(With IANS Inputs)
