New Zealand tour has been an invaluable exercise for Proteas rookies, says coach Shukri Conrad

The only way the Proteas are ever going to improve their record in matches that actually matter is if they play more of them.

It’s for this reason that a rather innocuous five-matches series between two sides that only a week before went hammer-and-tongs against each other in a winner-takes-all T20 World Cup semifinal now suddenly has meaning and context.

The Black Caps have never beaten the Proteas in a multi-game T20I series. And after squandering their first opportunity in Wellington a couple of days ago when the visitors somehow managed to lift themselves off the canvas to set up this series decider in Christchurch on Wednesday, they will surely hope not to let this opportunity to rewrite history slip through their fingers yet again.

Equally, the Proteas will not want to blot their perfect record. They already did so in the Test format last year when a severely depleted Proteas squad surrendered a first-ever red-ball series to the Kiwis.

“Yeah, it's always great when there's something, when there's extra edge to it. Not that you take anything for granted when you represent your country,” Proteas coach Shukri Conrad said.

“Yeah, it's a lot nicer coming at 2-2 than 3-1, you know. So, yeah, sets it up nicely. Hopefully the weather plays along and I'm sure we'll get a good crowd in.” 

Conrad admitted that the series was taxing due to its scheduling immediately after the T20 World Cup, but its value has now been seen through the development of the younger players the longer the tour has gone on.

“It was always a tough one coming after a World Cup and it was never about the exit in the World Cup, but a lot of people would be questioning the value of the series and why would you have it. I think we all did at some stage,” Conrad said.

“But when you look at some of the younger guys, again, that have become household names in SA20, as soon as you expose them to international cricket, that there's still a gap and there's still a pressure and a scrutiny that they would never have experienced before.

“So, I think on that front, it's been an invaluable exercise to see guys like Connor Esterhuizen and Nqobani Mokoena step up, (Prenelan) Subrayen on debut, like I said, and deliver the goods. 

“Whilst both teams are not at full strength, I think it's been an exciting series. Whether it is fully-fledged international cricket, I think the jury is out on that and many people will have their opinions on it.

“But as soon as you pull on that Proteas jumper, and I'm sure the same for the Kiwis, you represent your country and you've got to try and make them proud.”

Conrad also stated that one of the major takeaways from the tour will be the batters’ having to find ways to adapt to different surfaces.

“I think playing at this time of the year, different nature of wickets,” he said. “We’ve had drop-in wickets that have reacted differently to what I think both sides would have thought. 

“You've almost got to resort to old-fashioned T20 cricket in terms of with the bat, how you set it up.”

Meanwhile, the Proteas Women’s team can hopefully put their disappointment of losing the T20I series against the White Ferns with a solid showing in the upcoming three ODI’s in New Zealand.

They will hope they have greater success in the longer white-ball format in a bid to build confidence ahead of another tough five-match T20I series against India.

The ODI World Champions have selected a powerful squad for the five T20Is, which will serve as the final build-up to the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in England later this year.

Captain Harmanpreet Kaur will once again lead the India team with her able deputy Smriti Mandhana alongside her.

Women’s World Cup Player of the Tournament Deepti Sharma has also been included along with the exciting Jemimah Rodrigues.