Johannesburg, May 29 (Inditop): Former Proteas coach Eric Simons believes that South Africa will walk away with this year’s ICC World Twenty20 trophy.
South Africa’s first match of the tournament is against Scotland to be played at the Oval in London on June 7, and Simons feels the balance of the squad makes them a dangerous opponent.
“I think we have a very good chance in the tournament. One of South Africa’s strengths, in all cricket, has been the good balance in the team, with good batting, bowling and all rounders and that carries through to the T20 squad,” Simons told SuperCricket.
Not surprisingly Simons feels that South Africa’s biggest challenge will come from defending champions India and the always-competitive Australia. He feels if South Africa has a weakness, it is the lack of genuine death bowlers in the squad.
“You have to find ways of bowling at the death. The bowlers from overs 17 to 20 have to take responsibility.
“(Dale) Steyn, if he is firing, could probably bowl two of those overs and I think the spinners, someone like Roelof van der Merwe, will play an important role but the death bowling is a concern. You don’t have someone like Charl Langeveldt to do the job,” Sports 24 quoted Simons, as saying.
Simon was the bowling coach of the Bangalore Royal Challengers, the beaten finalists in the recently concluded Indian Premier League (IPL).
Simons feels that playing in the IPL helped South African players to realise what their role in T20 cricket is.
“Individuals have grown tremendously. People are still confused about players’ roles in T20, but playing in the IPL, helped a lot of guys realise that they could play their own game.
“Someone like Jacques Kallis realised that he has a role to play in T20 cricket but obviously that applies to all the other countries (players) as well.”
rounak