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Cape Town - Proteas all-rounder JP Duminy says the squad’s warm-up match against a Bangladesh Cricket Board XI in Fatullah on Friday will be an important preparation tool for the series ahead.
This is the squad’s only middle-practice opportunity ahead of the opening T20 international against Bangladesh in Mirpur on Sunday, and is a welcome opportunity after a month off.
“In practice matches you generally want to get a feel for the conditions,” he explained at a press conference at the SBNCS in Mirpur on Thursday afternoon.
“A lot of us have been off for a month so it’s about spending time out in the middle, getting used to the pace of the ball, putting together game plans for if it takes a bit of turn and to discuss it amongst ourselves. The crucial part will be to share the knowledge that we have, a few of us have played in these conditions for a number of years. It’s about sharing that information with the new players.”
Duminy identified the conditions and the heat as some of the squad’s biggest challenges of the tour. The players have held two training sessions in intense heat and humidity since their arrival, and along with guidance from the management, have been mindful of easing into proceedings.
“We are no strangers to the heat but it will take a few days to acclimatise,” said Duminy. “We have to manage ourselves well in terms of the way we train, along with getting enough fluids in. We have a great management staff who will give us the information to serve us well.”
Personally, Duminy has grown into an important cog of the Proteas’ attack with the ball, and says he is looking forward to testing his temperament against Bangladesh’s batsmen.
“It’s something that I have been working on for a long part of my game,” he said of his bowling. “I want to make sure that I can contribute with bat and ball. Over the years I have gained a lot of experience from playing in different conditions, especially in the IPL where I bowled in the Power Play and at the back-end. As a spinner I must be able to contribute to the team in any situation and I must be able to give the captain an option during any situation.”
Proteas T20 squad: Faf du Plessis (The Unlimited Titans, captain), Quinton de Kock (The Unlimited Titans), Rilee Rossouw (Knights), AB de Villiers (The Unlimited Titans), JP Duminy (Nashua Cape Cobras), David Miller (Sunfoil Dolphins), David Wiese (The Unlimited Titans), Chris Morris (The Unlimited Titans), Kyle Abbott (Sunfoil Dolphins), Kagiso Rabada (bizhub Highveld Lions), Aaron Phangiso (bizhub Highveld Lions), Eddie Leie (bizhub Highveld Lions), Wayne Parnell (Nashua Cape Cobras), Beuran Hendricks (Nashua Cape Cobras).
