Proteas braced for high-stakes T20 World Cup Super 8 clash with familiar foes West Indies

South African cricket has long been entranced with players from the Caribbean islands. Their Calypso flair bringing fresh excitement to the local grounds. 

The journey began with the likes of Sylvester Clarke, Colin Croft, Collis King, Alvin Kallicharran, Franklyn Stephenson and Eldine Baptiste in a previous rebel era before West Indies legends Desmond Haynes and Malcolm Marshall captivated local audiences with their unique talents during the 1990s.

Barbados duo Haynes and Marshall, in particular, left an indelible footprint on South African cricket beyond just their feats out on the field. Haynes was hugely influential in the mentoring of future Proteas stars Herschelle Gibbs and Jacques Kallis during their embryonic stages of their careers at Newlands, while Marshall guided the likes of Shaun Pollock and Lance Klusener at Kingsmead. 

And just over a month ago the Betway SA20 Season 4 revived this affinity with an infusion of West Indian talent across the six teams. 

Reggae music dominated the playlist in the Pretoria Capitals changeroom with former T20 World Cup winner Andre Russell joined by Shai Hope, Sherfane Rutherford and Roston Chase. Russell has since retired from the international game, but Hope, Rutherford and Chase are all part of the Windies squad that are due to face the Proteas in a crucial T20 World Cup encounter at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Thursday.

And nobody knows the Windies stars better than Proteas left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj, who captained the Capitals during Betway SA20, and has been an integral sounding board for the bowling unit to formulate plans to contain the power-hitting ability of Rutherford in particular. 

“We know the danger that they do possess so it's about coming up with nice and simple plans and focusing on our execution towards those battles,” Maharaj said on Wednesday.

“In terms of plans, I think guys have their own individual plans, which is important because you don't want to take away from the natural ability of someone, but finding their game plans within their own strengths and figuring out a way through it. These conversations are happening with both ball and bat.”

The Windies’ potency with the ball is led by their spin duo Gudakesh Motie and Akeal Hosain. The duo were also part of SA20 with Hosain starring for Joburg Super Kings and Motie part of the Paarl Royals squad. 

Maharaj acknowledged the duo’s potency, but was more concerned with his own preparation coming up against the Windies’ six-hitting sluggers who slayed Zimbabwe a couple of days ago.

“The West Indies have some amazing spinners in Moti and Akeal. But yeah, I'm just trying to do my job and sort of compliment my fast bowlers,” he said.

“If it's my time to take wickets, so be it. If not, then I'm there to fulfil my role towards the fast bowlers. The wicket hasn't assisted as much from a spin perspective, it hasn't really turned, if I'm honest.

“So, just trying to be wily in what I do, whether it's deceiving in the air or using lines and angles. I think as a spinner of the modern generation, you can't be predictable in terms of consistency from where you're going to land the ball, unless the wicket is really turning.”

The stakes are at all-time high for Thursday’s clash with the Proteas primed for a semifinal berth should they overcome the Windies challenge. 

Aiden Markram’s men will certainly be confident of getting the job done, especially after their epic triumph over defending champions India over the weekend, but Maharaj does not want to look too far ahead. 

“At this stage in the tournament, it's a huge game for us because we know if we get over the line, hopefully we do get over the line, it gives us the qualification into the semi-finals,” he said.

“West Indies have a way of turning up in these events though and we know the danger they possess from an explosive point of view. They've got some batters in form and some bowlers that are finding rhythm so making sure that we're quite clear in what we're trying to do and focusing solely on our execution.”

SQUADS FOR AHMEDABAD

PROTEAS: Aiden Markram (c), Corbin Bosch, Dewald Brevis, Quinton de Kock, Marco Jansen, George Linde, Keshav Maharaj, Kwena Maphaka, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Jason Smith and Tristan Stubbs.

WEST INDIES: Shai Hope (c), Shimron Hetmyer, Johnson Charles, Roston Chase, Matthew Forde, Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein, Shamar Joseph, Brandon King, Gudakesh Motie, Rovman Powell, Sherfane Rutherford, Quentin Sampson, Jayden Seales, Romario Shepherd.

Start: 11:30am, TV: SuperSport