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After South Africa’s 3-1 T20I series humbling by India, Rob Walter’s reign as 50-over and T20I coach of the Proteas is a mere three bilateral white-ball series win out of 13.
It’s not a pretty record but laying blame at the feet of the coach has been less than straightforward given his superb record at World Cups.
He took South Africa to the semi-finals of the Cricket World Cup last year before becoming the first coach in South African men’s cricket history to reach the final of a World Cup at the T20 World Cup in the Caribbean and US earlier this year.
The difference between bilateral series’ and World Cups for Walter? The strength of the squads he selects.
“The easy answer is, when we’re going to World Cups we’re picking our very best 15 players,” he said after South Africa’s chastening 135-run loss to India in the fourth T20I.
“But we can’t pick those 15 players every single time we play. It’s just not feasible, it’s just too much cricket.
“The rest of the time we have to build our base of players up to the same level which is what you’re seeing with the Indian side.”
South Africa had four players missing from the side that took on India in the T20 World Cup final in June. Kagiso Rabada, Quinton de Kock, Tabraiz Shamsi and Anrich Nortje.
Rabada was rested as South Africa prepares for an important summer of Test cricket at home, with Sri Lanka and Pakistan touring SA shores.
De Kock, Shamsi and Nortje, meanwhile, are in international cricket limbo, each opting out of national contracts and instead choosing to maximise their earning potential in franchise leagues across the globe.
Lutho Sipamla of the Proteas celebrates the wicket of Abhishek Sharma of India during the Wonder Cement International Series, 4th T20 match between South Africa and India at DP World Wanderers Stadium on November 15, 2024 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo: Lee Warren / Gallo Images)
Regardless of the historic feat at the T20 World Cup, criticism was levelled at the coach prior to the tournament for his racial makeup of the team. Pace-ace Rabada was the only black player in the 15-player squad.
Ottniel Baartman, who played in five of South Africa’s nine T20 World Cup matches – rotated out with Shamsi depending on conditions – sat on the bench across South Africa’s four T20I matches against India in an attempt to “move the team forward”.
“In this instance we’re giving exposure to Lutho Sipamla from a bowling point of view, Nqaba Peter before that,” Walter said about the usually economical Baartman not getting on the field despite South Africa conceding over 200 in three of the four matches.
“It’s a balancing act, we’re trying to move our team forward. As I said, after the [T20] World Cup, everyone needs to do their part in transforming this team, [by] making it more representative. That’s part of our journey.”
Gerald Coetzee, meanwhile, who was behind Baartman in the pecking order at the T20 World Cup, played all four matches, having recently come back from injury.
South Africa’s struggles in bilateral series extends to changes in the backroom staff outside of World Cups too.
Eric Simons, who held the role of bowling coach during both recent World Cups, has since departed the side with Anton Roux taking over the position.
“I’ve said it before, that is ideal and what we’re searching for, consistently,” Walter said about finding a permanent bowling coach, particularly for a crop of bowlers as inexperienced as the group who took on India.
“Unfortunately, it won’t be with Eric, it’s just not possible,” he added. “The two worlds just don’t match with regards to international cricket and franchise cricket, from a coaching point of view.
“Anton [Roux] is on board at the moment and certainly will be trying to be consistent with him for a period of time, for the sake of the players really. Just to create some consistency in our coaching environment.”
Despite his only success as national white-ball coach across nearly two years, outside of World Cups, coming sporadically against Netherlands, Australia and Ireland, Walter feels no pressure in his position from the outside but admitted how difficult losing has been on him.
“It’s incredibly difficult to be dead honest,” he said. “Every coach has great pride in the job that they produce.
“Ultimately the performance of the team rests with me, I’m the head coach. I’m responsible for that.
“To lose series’, to lose games of cricket, it never sits well. If we don’t move forward as a side that doesn’t sit well either because ultimately, we need to continually be moving forward.
“Do I feel pressure from anyone besides myself? No.”
The coach has, courageously, shouldered the failures of his side on himself.
“I feel the greatest pressure from myself as a coach who has great pride in the job that he does but also pride for the country and the Proteas as a cricket team and wanting to make sure they represent the country well,” he said.
“That’s where the pressure comes in … losing a series is not what we want to stamp our name towards and certainly, beginning with me, that’s highly disappointing.
“I want the team to be better and it starts with me being better for the team.” DM
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