Malibongwe Maketa. (Photo by Lee Warren/Gallo Images)
- Proteas interim coach Malibongwe Maketa is preparing his charges to expect drama in the Australian Test series, but not be distracted by it.
- There’s already been a lot of focus on the 2018 ball-handling saga, which Maketa says is something his team has left behind years ago.
- Maketa has been encouraged by the energy displayed by the team members who were part of the punishing T20 World Cup campaign.
Expect some drama, but don’t get sucked into its vortex.
That is the message from Proteas interim test coach Malibongwe Maketa to his players as they prepare for the three-match series against Australia which kicks off later this month.
The astute hosts and their media outlets have ramped up the hype again with specific focus on the 2018 series in South Africa, the last time the two countries played red-ball cricket against each other and a skirmish marred by the rigging scandal. sandpaper ball. as well as the locker room fight between Quinton de Kock and David Warner.
And it certainly hasn’t helped that Faf du Plessis and Tim Paine’s recently released respective autobiographies refer extensively to the series.
For Maketa’s team, however, there’s no reason to dig up the past simply because only six of the team’s 16 were involved.
“For us, [we’ve definitely moved on]especially this group of players,” Maketa said Tuesday.
“Only a handful of us were involved in that series and I know it changed people’s careers, but for us to be on the other side of the spectrum it was an unfortunate incident and really something that happened a long time ago.
“We are really looking forward to this opportunity. We want to compete against a strong team.”
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However, it is very likely that the past cannot be recovered, then a new problem (or not a problem) will arise and perhaps distract attention from the action on the field.
That is why Maketa does not deny such a dynamic development.
“It’s difficult, but experience tells us that every series has its setbacks in terms of a bit of drama,” he said.
“Mentally, it’s about what it takes to win. That’s our driving force. Whatever happens, we have the people and the support to get the team through whatever situation we find ourselves in.”
A more pressing matter for him has been helping members who were part of the T20 World Cup to regain focus after that punishing campaign and Maketa has done this by getting them to have active conversations about cricket.
And he believes that dropping that marker is paying off.
“It’s a different format. We’ve made sure mentally and physically that the guys have a longer rest. The focus is how we’re going to win this series. The guys who participated in the T20 World Cup have contributed in many ways, especially the conditions We have been challenging them to put energy into the team, which they have done,” Maketa said.
“Being Test Cricket, there are different pressures and the mental shift happened earlier than usual when you consider body language. It’s been really positive for us.”
