South Africa’s bowlers are eager to face Pakistan’s batter-friendly conditions during the Champions Trophy, where high scores are expected. Since 2021, Pakistan has recorded the highest ODI batting average, with recent tri-series games featuring multiple scores over 300. Keshav Maharaj emphasizes the challenge of adapting to these conditions, balancing a defensive bowling role with exploiting changes in pace. South Africa’s strategy includes leveraging seamers, given their stronger ODI performance in Pakistan compared to spinners. Despite favorable batting conditions, Maharaj insists on maintaining discipline, encouraging his team’s focus to make the most of opportunities without overconfidence.
The bowlers from South Africa are eager for the opportunity to face batter-friendly conditions in Pakistan, where high scores are anticipated to shape the Champions Trophy.
“It’s a fantastic opportunity to showcase the caliber of our bowling lineup as we strive to defend these scores,” Maharaj mentioned from Karachi, where South Africa is set to face Afghanistan in their tournament opener on Friday. “Although these totals may appear substantial, it’s fairly standard to aim for 320 these days, whether batting first or chasing it down in the 44th or 46th over.”
“It’s an excellent challenge. As cricketers, if you aren’t pushed in your specific skill set, then you won’t encourage yourself to improve. High scores are a brilliant advertisement for the game, and when a bowler comes out on top, it highlights his talent and value within the team and the global landscape.”
Maharaj acknowledged that this might signify a return to a more conventional containment role for him, with the seamers expected to take the attacking approach.
“They’re quite content with the conditions, but they recognize it’s not simply about showing up and scoring runs. It’s still a methodical process.”
Keshav Maharaj on the South Africa batters
“Achieving success hinges on building pressure and minimizing boundary balls,” he explained. “It’s more about adopting that holding role typically seen in South Africa. It’s not about altering my bowling style but adjusting our field settings. I’m still aiming to bowl my best delivery to create opportunities, albeit with a more defensive field, maybe without a slip for extended periods. That’s essentially the mindset.”
In his only ODI appearance in Pakistan just last week, Maharaj performed admirably. He emerged as South Africa’s most economical bowler on a challenging day, with Pakistan successfully chasing down 353 runs with an over to spare—going wicketless but allowing only five fours and a six in his ten overs, which included 30 dot deliveries. His economy rate of 5.40 stemmed from experimenting with techniques to restrict scoring in an environment where he discovered “the turn isn’t as pronounced as one might expect.”
Consequently, Maharaj has opted to rely on variations in pace. “You still want to spin the ball because the more revolutions it has, the more flight and drift it generates,” he noted. “For me, it’s about manipulating the overspin and sidespin, focusing on the paces I deliver so that batters find it difficult to settle, whether using their feet or getting caught on the crease.”
South Africa’s strategy of utilizing their spinners as holding bowlers, combined with a lineup featuring five seamers and only two specialist spinners, aligns with statistics indicating the types of bowlers that succeed in Pakistan. Since 2021, fast bowlers have claimed 180 wickets in 44 innings at an average of 36.02, which is superior to the spinners’ average of 43.98, though spinners have maintained an economy of 5.49 compared to seamers’ 6.02. This suggests that pace bowlers might face challenges, which Roux noted requires “critical, diligent planning and execution” to mitigate.
This also implies that batsmen, particularly those who prefer the ball coming onto the bat as South Africans typically do, would be keenly anticipating big runs. When asked if players like Temba Bavuma, Tony de Zorzi, Ryan Rickelton, Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klaasen, and David Miller had been running around smiling, Maharaj implied that while they were pleased, they remained cautious not to get overly optimistic.
“They’re quite pleased with the conditions, but they understand it’s crucial to engage in a process; it’s not just about showing up and scoring runs,” Maharaj commented. “When wickets favor you, it motivates you to train harder so you can maximize the opportunity. I don’t perceive any sense of complacency, even if conditions seem to favor the batters. Expect to see a highly energized team.”
Firdose Moonda is ESPNcricinfo’s correspondent covering South Africa and women’s cricket.