(Reuters) – South Africa appreciate that they did not have an ideal day with the bat in their opening World Cup loss against Australia but the team did not dwell too much on it, fast bowler Kagiso Rabada said yesterday.
The Proteas went down in a low-scoring thriller in their opening Super 12 clash in Abu Dhabi, with an inspired bowling effort keeping them in the contest till the final over after the team could post a total of 118 for nine.
They will face West Indies in Dubai today with the defending champions coming off a demoralising defeat by England in their opening contest.
“Coming to this press conference, I kind of knew that people were going to ask or that you guys were going to ask a lot about the batting,” the South African pace spearhead told reporters.
“We also see it as a concern. The last thing we need to do is keep bickering on and on about it.
“The batters know what they have to do. We know what we have to do as a team. No one is blaming anyone. But the worst thing you can do is just harp on and on and on about it. It is definitely an area that was of concern, and it’s being addressed.”
The Caribbean side, which won the last edition of the tournament in 2016, folded for an embarrassing 55 inside 15 overs before Eoin Morgan’s men romped home inside nine overs.
Rabada, 26, is aware the dangers that a cornered West Indies side can pose but said his side are staying positive.
“They’re a dangerous team. You can’t underestimate anyone. Tomorrow is a new day,” Rabada said.
“We’re going to have to go and be as disciplined as we were in our first game. We cannot take anything for granted. It’s a new game, and they’re a strong, powerful team, T20 team especially.”
