1:28 PM IST:
Coach’s word – South African Head Coach Shukri Conrad underlines that a massive summer lies ahead, and there could be no better way to set the tone than a strong showing against an opponent like Australia. On the injuries within the squad, he concedes it has been disruptive, but stresses finding a way through it regardless, calling that resilience the hallmark of this team. He is wary of knee-jerk reactions and refuses to let panic creep in, saying instead that systems are being put in place to stay ahead of such setbacks. On the significance of the nine ODIs before next year’s World Cup, he points to a few positions and combinations the team is still weighing up, and says building capacity and depth in those areas will simply happen along the way. With nine ODIs this year and likely a couple more before the World Cup, still to be confirmed, he views the tweaks ahead as minor adjustments, reasoning that if the core of the squad is not clear by now, it may never be. On losing experienced campaigners like Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi, and whether the younger bowlers might feel exposed as a result, he frames it as exactly the path the side prefers to take. He argues that anyone can point out the problems, but chooses instead to see the situation as a genuine opportunity, one he believes will stand the team in good stead once they come through the other side of it.
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