According to pacer Anrich Nortje, South Africa’s comeback in various forms over the past several years has resulted from sticking to the fundamentals, utilizing a wider talent pool, and competing for a few number of slots in the team.
The Proteas have re-established themselves as one of the top teams in world cricket thanks to their historic accomplishments, which include winning the World Test Championship and making their first appearance in the T20 World Cup final last year.
In the Test series, South Africa trounced the hosts 2-0, their first victory in India in 25 years, continuing their resurgence.
“The team’s been doing unbelievably well. The way they’ve locked up, there’s some fresh faces, there’s some old faces, guys have been on the fringes for a while, getting to play more cricket, more consistently,” Nortje said on the eve of the fourth T20I against India in Lucknow on Tuesday.
Despite his recent absence from the Test setup, Nortje noted that the teams’ shared approach was particularly clear.
“I haven’t been with the Test team for a while but just coming in and seeing how basic they keep it, trying to be as basic as possible let the moment play out.”
The fast bowler also credited internal rivalry and clearly defined responsibilities for South Africa’s white-ball success.
“I can only speak for the white ball team, but on the outside it just looks like the guys are doing really well, getting along very well, and everyone knows their role in the team, and I think that’s very important,” Nortje said.
“There’s a lot of competition as well, which creates opportunity and also creates a little bit of pressure for guys in the team, which is good, which is what you want.
“I think that’s something that’s built up over the last year or two as well, and just puts guys under pressure, and a lot of guys have to fight for a spot, which is great, which is what you want.”
Nortje returned to the South African team for the ongoing T20I series after being out for a considerable amount of time owing to a recurrence of a stress fracture. In his two appearances so far, he has not taken a wicket.
“It’s nice to be back, nice to be back in the Proteas shirt again, really missed it. Sort of happy with the progress, there’s still a lot of cricket to play. We go back into some SA20 as well, which is quite a few games back to back.”
The express pacer stated that as he begins his recovery, he is more concerned with steady improvement than immediate results.
“So, just trying to make progress on every game, trying to improve as much as I can, but just to be realistic as well. So far, I’m really happy with the progress, where I’ve come to, and just trying to build on whatever I can and whatever I’m working on, going forward into the next month or two.”
