Letter: Proteas sadly lacking

IN the lead-up to the ICC T20 competition in India, the Proteas had the opportunity to play against both England and Australia on home turf. It was the ideal occasion to fine-tune the squad.

In the media advertising, especially on TV, we were exposed to “Protea fire” and the passion for the game. The first game against England gave an early indication of the fragile underbelly of the squad.

After posting a comfortable total for the first innings, something different was required for the bowling attack! A Dale Steyn who had not been involved in competitive one day cricket and his young counterpart were taken to the cleaners by the English openers, from which they never recovered.

The Proteas’ fielding and general demeanour on the field was not up to standard. Having lost the opening game they were always playing catch-up, waiting for one of the other sides to lose!

The top four batsmen and the bowling attack did not gel together, and either one or the other failed to produce. One must ask the questions of the role and input of the captain, who admitted on TV after losing one toss, that he was not sure whether to bat or bowl.

Also what requires more explanation is the role of the coach and, aligned to that, the various roles of the coaching staff, of which there are more than enough. It has become obvious over the last season or two that Russell Domingo goes through the motions of a coach and that philosophy permeates downwards.

Apart from the “quota system”, one must look at the on-field behaviour of the different squads and take note. For one, the Indian team is led by M S Dhoni and is very different from Faf du Plessis, who at times looks befuddled.

So much was expected from this national side, but for all the money spent, once again it failed to deliver. The time has come for heads to roll and for those who can deliver to be brought into the team.