Dale Steyn sealed the crucial Super 12 encounter between South Africa and Pakistan at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in Sydney.
And while the Proteas legend laments that his side doesn’t face Perth’s bouncing bridge, he rocks like he’s nailing a match to the surface of the SCG.
“I think I’d love to see those two speed attacks go head-to-head in Perth. I mean, it would be so beautiful, bThey’re in Sydney, a slightly different focus,” Steyn said.
“Sydney has had a lot of races and sometimes it takes a different skill set, you have to look at the adaptability of the trailblazers.
Hitting in Sydney, South Africa and New Zealand has fond memories of scoring over 200 runs. India also looked strong at bat in the game at SCG, posting 179/2 with three fifty in their win over the Netherlands.
Steyn put pressure on the batsmen to match previous scores in this event, although both bowling teams could use a change of pace or opt for more spin options instead of playing on Perth’s bouncing bridge. May bowl for a bowler.
“It’s up to the batsmen how they can handle a high scoring spot. How are they going to fight to outdo each other?” said Stein.
“I’m excited to see how the bowlers will change their game and how they look, it’s different to what they’ve come up against, but both are fantastic attacks. Overall, both sides.
It will be a battle of wits for bowlers. Rethinking their plans on a surface that doesn’t value speed and rebound, Steyn urges bowlers to think about their variations and asks voters to be bold if they want to put together a winning team.
“They (quickly) should probably go to Sydney a bit more with some Yorkers and more changes. Under these conditions, those who use the word again will be the best bowlers of the day,” he said.
“You see someone like Lungi Ngidi. He could be a horse for a lesson with South Africa.
“He may have been the man of the match in the previous game, but we may not see him. They can bring (Tabris) Shamsi and if there is a slight turn we will be on the pitch. Get down on the pitch.”
Ahead of the tournament, Steyn included Pakistan’s Shaheen Afridi in his top five point guards for the tournament along with Mitchell Starc, Mark Wood and South African pair Kakizo Rabada and Henrich Nordje.
Although there is another Pakistani who makes a difference in Steyn’s opinion: Harris Rauff.
Given his extensive experience in Australia, Steyn sees Rauf’s knowledge and skills as a point of difference.
“I spoke to him a year ago and a year later he’s excited to come to Australia and play again,” Steyn said.
“He played well in this tournament, but he also played well in Big Bash, so it shows that he has experience. He knows how to bowl on this bridge, so he must be a big force.
For tomorrow’s result, Steyn prefers his team-mate, but Babar Asam’s side are not ruling out forfeiting.
“I’m going with South Africa, (because they’re) on a very hot trip right now,” Steyn said.
“It’s a game Pakistan have to win and sometimes they play with a little bit of emotion and if they play skillfully I think they will match South Africa but if they play with that emotion, they think they have to. Win, they might come. short.
South Africa is doing well at the moment.
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