Heading into the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup in India without a “favourites” tag hanging around their necks could be a blessing in disguise, former Proteas spinner Robin Peterson said.
The Proteas start their World Cup campaign against Sri Lanka on Saturday.
There have been some good showings against Australia since then, but entering the tournament via the back door is not quite a bold announcement of their arrival.
South African cricket and good luck have sat around separate camp fires in past tournaments, but Peterson said there was reason to be optimistic about this group’s ability to do well and put up game-winning performances.
“I think South Africa have a good team,” the former left-arm spinner told TimesLIVE Premium.
“Not many people are talking about them or expecting too much from them, which is a nice position to be in. A lot of the players have played cricket in India in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and, similar to many of the teams [in this tournament], they have experience of playing in those conditions.”
The Warriors coach has intimate knowledge of Indian conditions, not only as a former player but also in his various IPL roles.
“You need to have knowledge of the venues they have now, or importantly, you need to handle the culture and the way cricket is presented to you. It’s in your face all the time and it is very difficult to get away from that, and the players who have been there understand that.
“It’s a big country, so the logistics of travelling become key, to go from one part of the country to another you can fly for three hours, but luckily most IPL players have experienced that.
“This is World Cup cricket, it is not a series. So they have to be on it all the time and being mentally and emotionally prepared is very important for the team.”
Peterson said the Proteas had enough experience of how to play in India to win the World Cup.
“It will come down to how well they can gel as a team, the players and the team striking form at the right time. They want to be winning early, but also wanting to play their best cricket at the back end of the tournament.”
He said speedster Anrich Nortjé’s skills would be missed, but the team had the necessary backup.
If you get on the wrong side of the toss, teams like Afghanistan, Bangladesh or Sri Lanka can beat you. You have to be on your game, every game and if not, you will be coming home.
— Robin Peterson
“Anrich has been to India and we cannot deny he must have been a big cog in their planning as a team and he brings that experience and pace that you need to flourish in those conditions. They are fortunate in that they still have Gerald Coetzee and Marco Jansen who can bowl in that mid 140km/h range.
“The important thing now is how one structures the bowling attack around his absence and how roles change. He will be a big miss.”
Front-line spinners Keshav Maharaj and Tabraiz Shamsi brought bags of know-how and were more than capable, he said.
“They have all the experience now, having gone to World Cups and playing in India. I think the big question is whether they can fit both of them into one team. I can’t see South Africa playing two spinners against the top teams, but they may try it against some of the second-tier nations.
“However, the real conundrum will be how they can fit in two spinners if the pitch is turning against high-quality opponents.”
The new head coach of SA20’s MI Cape Town was adamant no team can be written off.
“If you get on the wrong side of the toss, teams like Afghanistan, Bangladesh or Sri Lanka can beat you. You have to be on your game, every game, and if not, you will be coming home.”
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