Proteas
No excuses for SA - Kirsten
2011-09-02 08:05
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Cape Town - Proteas coach Gary Kirsten says they won't be able to blame a lack of preparation as reason should they lose to Australia this summer.
The Proteas will only have a week together before their first T20 game against Australia on October 13 at Newlands.
13 of South Africa's players that attended a practice camp in Kleinmond this week will be involved in the lucrative Champions League Twenty20 for their respective franchise teams. The Champions League only finishes on October 9.
The players not involved in the Champions League will go back to their local franchises, preparing for the upcoming domestic season.
This will leave the Proteas with very little time to regroup before their series against the Aussies, but the South African coach says they can't look for excuses.
"It would have been nice to spend more time together with the players, but that is the cricket world that we are living in," Kirsten told
Die Burger newspaper.
"It's slightly disruptive, but in today's professional environment you have to manage it correctly. It can definitely not be used as an excuse," said the former Protea opening batsman.
The coach won't see his players again before they re-gather in October, and with the South Africans building a reputation in recent years of starting slowly - especially in Test matches - the coach knows he will have his hands full of getting them ready for the challenge against Australia.