Proteas must be flexible at T20 World Cup – Gibbs

Herschelle Gibbs says the Proteas’ batting order at this year’s T20 World Cup should depend on the game situation.

The former Proteas opening batsman said coach Rob Walter had several batsmen capable of finishing games and not just renowned finisher David Miller.

“A lot has been said about the firepower in the middle order,” Gibbs told Sportsboom.com. “I would like to see them being proactive in decision-making.

“We have Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller and Tristan Stubbs. I have upset too many journalists when I have said that all these batters can bat at any position. One of the franchises used Miller as the finisher. I feel all of them have the same sort of firepower.

“If the Proteas are two down, I would not go with a set batting order,” Gibbs added. “You could use either one of the three as a finisher. Miller is not the only one. The other guys have the hitting ability, and it doesn’t matter where they bat. It depends on the game situation.”

Gibbs says captain Markram will also need to be sharp with his bowling changes, and that there shouldn’t be set bowlers for powerplay and death overs.

“You can’t be predictable as to how you use your bowlers. The guys will have to bowl at any time of the innings. Markram’s captaincy will be the key in such situations.”

Proteas’ T20 World Cup fixtures:

• Monday, 3 June: vs Sri Lanka, New York, 16:30 (SA time)
• Saturday, 8 June: vs Netherlands, New York, 16:30 (SA time)
• Monday, 10 June: vs Bangladesh, New York, 16:30 (SA time)
• Saturday, 15 June: vs Nepal, St Vincent, 01:30 (SA time)

Proteas squad:

Aiden Markram (c), Ottniel Baartman, Gerald Coetzee, Quinton de Kock, Bjorn Fortuin, Reeza Hendricks, Marco Jansen, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, David Miller, Anrich Nortje, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tabraiz Shamsi, Tristan Stubbs.

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