SA v IND 2018: Proteas youngsters found it difficult to match the intensity of international cricket, says Ottis Gibson

Gibson feels that a lot of the South African players need to get back to domestic cricket to get their basics right.

Team India lost only 2 matches in their entire limited-overs series against South Africa | BCCI

After the conclusion of third T20I between India and South Africa, which the visitors won by 7 runs to clinch the Twenty-20 international series 2-1, Proteas coach Ottis Gibson said that the injury of senior players didn’t help their cause and the youngsters couldn’t quite adapt to the intensity of international cricket.

“If you see, the senior guys got injured. The new guys that came in, the level and the intensity they have had to perform at is different from what they have been accustomed to and they haven’t stepped up to and haven’t been able to adapt quickly enough. We’ve seen some exciting new talent,” Gibson said while addressing the media after the third T20I in Cape Town.

“We lost the game by seven runs tonight. The difference tonight would be the fielding. Dropped catches, fumbles cost us the game tonight,” he added.

Gibson also insisted the young players to go back to domestic circuit to improve their basics.  

 “I think you remember before I got back that all the players were asked to play domestic cricket. So I am a big fan of strong domestic league. If you have international cricketers not performing and then I’d think domestic cricket would be the place to go back. It is how you bounce back and the attitude that you have towards practicing and preparation will help you to get back where you want to be and where you belong in terms of your form, so it is just about those guys being very clear in their minds of what exactly they want to do,” the newly appointed South Africa coach opined.

In particular, Ottis Gibson was disappointed with the all-rounder Chris Morris, who was not quite up to the mark throughout the limited-overs series.

“He has got some domestic cricket to go and get some consistency, especially in his bowling. He is a match-winner. He needs to find what type of bowler he wants to become and put practice in that and work in to become that person,” he said.

Team India had won the first T20I by 28 runs before the hosts fought back and won the second game by 6 wickets. It is worth mentioning here that the Men in Blue recorded a double series win on their South Africa tour. Earlier this month, they have emphatically won the six-match ODI series with a stunning margin of 5-1.

When asked about India’s dominance, Gibson said the experience of Indian bowlers made the difference.

“India have got Jasprit Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, two very experienced players. We’ve got Morris and debutant Junior Dala. The experience the Indians have of playing not just for India but also playing 3-4 years of IPL cricket has paid off in the end. Junior held his own very well. Chris Morris has got a lot of work to do,” he concluded.

 
 

By Salman Anjum - 25 Feb, 2018

    Share Via