Proteas women’s opening batter Tazmin Brits reiterated that the team continues their search for a near-perfect performance in the ongoing ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup in India.
South Africa has had a successful campaign thus far, winning three out of four games.
However, the team has a number of areas that need serious attention, including batting collapses in the top-order, miscommunication between batters and the lack of ruthlessness in the bowling and fielding departments.
Brits revealed coach Mandla Mashimbyi’s favourite phrase, “if you lose, as long as you learn”, as one of the driving forces within the side as they continue their search for the perfect game.
The top-order batter revealed that there have been discussions within the team about their shortcomings as they look to put on a polished performance against Sri Lanka in Colombo on Friday.
“We’ve had quite a few discussions. I mean, that’s what Mandla likes to say, ‘if you lose, as long as you learn’, he likes to say that. That’s a big thing,” Brits told Independent Newspapers.
“So, we are definitely learning as we’re going along. I mean, we’re quick to say stick to the basics. But once again, cricket is a very humbling game.
“But we’re just making sure that we do stick to the basics in the beginning, maybe not lose too many wickets up front and maybe just softer dismissals.
“I think we’re losing our wickets not to great balls but maybe just reckless or maybe less focussing. So, maybe just looking at those things, grinding it out a bit longer.”
Despite the side not having played a near-perfect game thus far, they’ve been able to find ways to win, a feat that Brits says is scary in that it shows they can achieve a lot more if they put together a near-perfect game.
“We’ve managed to win quite a few games, and that’s actually the scary part due to the fact that we haven’t actually clicked like we normally would as a batting unit. But I guess, like we always say, that is cricket,” she said.
“Someone has to stick up their hands, and it’s nice to see that it’s different people sticking up their hands on different occasions. At the end of the day, as long as we’re winning as a team.
“I mean, there’s a reason why there’s 11 on the field or 11 in the batting department. But hopefully, closer or leading up to maybe if we go to the semis and the finals, that we can all contribute and have a better score.”
Brits emphasised that it was important for them to bounce back after the tough loss against England in the tournament opener.
“A lot of times, we always say that the first game is the pressure game. Although we did lose against England, I’m glad that we managed to come back against New Zealand,” she said.
“I think confidence-wise, that was the best thing that could happen for our team. I think that also contributed to these very near finishes and just the capability of the team.”
South Africa are set to take on Sri Lanka at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Friday, with the fixture scheduled to start at 11.30 am SAST.
