Keeping in mind next year’s World Twenty20 in India, South Africa are experimenting with AB de Villiers’ batting position by giving him the role of an opener in the current series, Farhaan Behardien said on Sunday.
De Villiers opened the innings in the first T20 in Dharamsala and he blasted 51 from 42 balls.
South African middle order batsman Behardien hoped the latest move by their team think tank would be successful ahead of the World T20.
“The first six overs in a Twenty20 game when the ball comes on to the bat is crucial. If we can pounce on the Power Play, AB is that good a player that if he bats for 50 to 60 balls, he will end up with a hundred,” Behardien said at a news conference on the eve of the second T20I.
“He was mentioning that he has been on tour to India about 25 times. We wanted to test it out before the World Cup next year in March and see how he goes. Let’s hope it proves fruitful for us.”
South Africa lead the series 1-0 after their seven-wicket win in Dharamsala where close to 400 runs were scored but it would be different in Cuttack, the South African said.
{{/usCountry}}South Africa lead the series 1-0 after their seven-wicket win in Dharamsala where close to 400 runs were scored but it would be different in Cuttack, the South African said.
{{/usCountry}}“In Dharamsala, to get close to 400 runs in 40 overs was little bit of a freak thing. From an altitude point of view, it is much lower so the ball will not fly around that much. We have to play according to the conditions. There might be more ones and twos. Running between the wickets might be crucial, and from a bowler’s perspective certain pockets in the field will be crucial.”
Making his T20I debut, the 32-year-old showed a lot of character and stayed calm as he along with man-of-the-match JP Duminy’s unbroken 105 partnership sealed the win with two balls to spare.