Proteas sharpening aggressive approach – Bavuma

Proteas one-day internationals (ODI) captain Temba Bavuma is happy about the strides his side has taken in playing a more positive brand of cricket. 

Entering a new era, the Proteas have stated their intentions of playing attacking cricket, playing on the front foot in red and white ball cricket. Bavuma has been the one driving the message related by the Test coach  Shukri Conrad and limited overs mentor Rob Walter. 

The Proteas have played two ODI series against England and the Windies, and in both, they played well. They defeated England 2-1 and drew 1-1 with their Caribbean counterparts, after their opening ODI was rained out in East London. Tuesday's four-wicket win over West Indies in  Potchefstroom was largely thanks to Heinrich Klaasen’s unbeaten 119 off 61 balls, indicated that the team is heading in the direction according to Bavuma.

"We’ve taken a couple of steps towards what perfect would look like for us. We know there’s still a learning process that we are still going to go through. We are going to come up against different opposition in different conditions, we’ll have to adapt to that," said Bavuma when speaking to the media.

“We have shown in the last two games in the West Indies series and including the three games against England, that we have gone a long way in refining and building our confidence around our brand.

"For me watching from the side, I think it was almost like a big watershed moment for us as a team. We have been speaking about how we would like to play, there had been moments before today but when a guy goes out and plays like that, it really builds up the confidence and belief, and it also builds the belief and trust of the people who are watching us as a team," he said.

With this year being a Cricket World Cup year, the Proteas must have an established 50-overs team that will look to compete in India later this year. Later this month SA will take on their bogey team the Netherlands in two crucial World Cup qualifying matches.

Bavuma is optimistic that when they meet with the Dutch they would have an idea of their best team, one that could be the core used at the global showpiece. 

“Against the Netherlands, fitness will be the biggest thing. We had illnesses and injuries that forced our hands to go a certain way. Hopefully against the Netherlands, everyone is fit, and then I and the coach we’ll get together and select the best 11," he said.  

On Saturday, the Proteas will take on the West Indies in the first of three T20 matches at SuperSport Park (2pm).