The Coca-Cola South Africa under-19 cricket
team go into Saturday’s second Coca-Cola Youth Test against England under-19 in
Paarl looking to put into practice the lessons learned in their 107 run defeat
in the first Test last week.
SA coach, Ray Jennings says that,
while it was disappointing to be so comprehensively beaten, there were some
positives to take out of the game, and some important lessons.
“Our youth play mainly limited overs cricket
at schools and junior level and our batsmen were not quite sure how to handle
the longer 4 day game,” said Jennings. “This showed in the way they were going
for big shots at inappropriate times during the first Test and the result was
that we were bowled out in less than 60 overs in both innings. We have been
talking about it, and working hard at it ahead of the second game.”
The English players, on the other
hand, play a lot more of the longer versions of the game, Jennings points out,
and it showed in their patient approach to building their innings.
“We have made one or two changes
to our batting order for the second Coca-Cola Youth Test, and we have been
talking all week about shot selection and patience and I am looking for an
improvement from our batsmen in those departments.”
Jennings feels that the impact of
fast bowler Craig Kirsten, injury after bowling just four overs in the first
Test, has been under-estimated. “It put tremendous pressure on the rest of our
attack and led to England getting far more runs in their first innings than
they should have,” he said.
“Our performance with the ball in
their second inning was one of the most professional I have ever seen at
under-19 level. To keep their run-rate down to 1.9 per over, with one bowler
short was a great performance and something we can build on in the second
Test.”
Jennings singled out the
performance of quick bowler Lizaard Williams as the big highlight of the first
Test.
“The smoothness of his action and
the way he glides through the crease reminds me of Dale Steyn and I am
confident that we are looking at a Proteas player within the next 18 month,” he
said.
As far as the second Coca-Cola
Youth Test is concerned, Jennings said he is looking for more patience from the
batsmen and a better grip of what playing four day cricket means from the whole
team. “I will be happy if the players go out and put into practice the information
we have been giving them,” he said.
“It’s going to be very hot in
Paarl, by all accounts. It will be interesting to see how the English players
react if we put them under sustained pressure,” concluded Jennings.
Coca-Cola South Africa Marketing
Assets Manager, Craig van Niekerk said of the brand’s involvement in the
Coca-Cola Youth Series: “The inclusion
of an International component into our Under 19 sponsorship portfolio completes
the development cycle. Players start
competing in our Coca-Cola T20 Schools tournament, which helps us reach a
broader youth base and creates a platform to promote living active and healthy
lifestyles. The players then progress to
the Coca-Cola Khaya Majola Cricket
week and now the top 2012 achievers are Show casing their talents before the
rest of South Africa and the World, which is expressed in our campaign around cricket
development, ‘Show Your Class’.”
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| Andries Gous avoids a bouncer during day 4 of the U19 1st Youth Test match between South Africa and England. |
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| Andries Gous drives through covers day 4 of the U19 1st Youth Test match between South Africa and England. |
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| Clyde Fortuin of South Africa in action during day 4 of the U19 1st Youth Test match between South Africa and England |
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