It is quite obvious that when a team has won 12 consecutive ODI’s on the trot, in the lead up to an ICC event, then that team is bound to be termed as the favourites for the competition. South Africa have gone on to achieve humungous success in the last few months, with a fierce performance in the ODI’s. It all began by whitewashing the reigning world champions Australia at home, which was quickly followed by a whitewash of Sri Lanka.
Against New Zealand in the first ODI, things were far stretched, but eventually, the Proteas managed to keep their cool in the last over to seal the chase. Batting coach Neil McKenzie was delighted with the side’s performance and now wants his team to put up a “perfect” show indeed.
“We haven’t played the perfect game yet,” said McKenzie. “Twelve in row has shown what we have been doing over last year has really worked. The big thing is we’ve got to try get to play that perfect game and hopefully that comes in a semi or final. But the blueprint has got to be honed in every game you play,” he said.
Stating his satisfaction over the conditions on offer, the former opener added, “All one-day sides gauge themselves on periods where you lead up to a Champions Trophy or pinnacle series,” McKenzie said. “It bodes well for us going to England where we’re going find the same sort of conditions generally.”
From the South African camp itself, pacer Vernon Philander expressed his desire to play the Champions Trophy in England later this year. “I am not focusing on the wickets column and on how many wickets I take. It is about the team and getting them to a positive result,” Philander said. “Of course I would like to play for South Africa in the ICC Champions Trophy in England.”