De Kock and Amla capable at top ‘but AB better’
by Liam del Carme,
2016-03-18 05:00:00.0
AS THE man who introduced the then fresh-faced prodigy AB de Villiers to the cricket world, Dave Nosworthy has little doubt where the batting maestro belongs in the batting order.
"I selected him as an 18-year-old straight from Affies to make his debut in a World Cup warm-up game against Canada in 2003," recalled the former Titans coach.
"He opened and smashed a hundred that day and since then, I’ve had no doubt about his ability at the top of the order. Because of the make-up of our team at the time, he later had to drop to number three and four, but I knew what he was capable of."
Where De Villiers should slot into the Proteas’ Twenty20 batting line-up has been a topic of raging debate and the noise has been amplified in the build-up to the World Cup. Even as the Proteas applied the finishing touches before their tournament opener on Friday, former skipper Graeme Smith told sport360.com: "I would bat AB in the top order, preferably at No3, but I don’t think Faf du Plessis (the captain) would allow that to happen."
Nosworthy argues De Villiers should be deployed in such a way that he can have maximum effect on proceedings. In conditions where the ball takes longer to get to the bat, De Villiers’ penchant to get to it as quickly as possible can be compelling. "Quinton (de Kock) and Hashim (Amla) are quite capable of doing a good job at the top, but AB is better. I don’t care who we have up front, we need a guy like AB. In those conditions, you need someone who can go hard at the ball while it is still hard."
Nosworthy believes De Kock could have a long run at the top of the order.
"He will probably stay at the top of the order. He’s left-handed and brings a different dynamic.
Overall, Nosworthy is happy with the manpower the Proteas have assembled for the global tournament. "I don’t think there is a problem with our batting line-up.
"I think the biggest challenge the team has is coming up with the right combinations."
AB De Villiers. Picture: GALLO IMAGES
AS THE man who introduced the then fresh-faced prodigy AB de Villiers to the cricket world, Dave Nosworthy has little doubt where the batting maestro belongs in the batting order.
"I selected him as an 18-year-old straight from Affies to make his debut in a World Cup warm-up game against Canada in 2003," recalled the former Titans coach.
"He opened and smashed a hundred that day and since then, I’ve had no doubt about his ability at the top of the order. Because of the make-up of our team at the time, he later had to drop to number three and four, but I knew what he was capable of."
Where De Villiers should slot into the Proteas’ Twenty20 batting line-up has been a topic of raging debate and the noise has been amplified in the build-up to the World Cup. Even as the Proteas applied the finishing touches before their tournament opener on Friday, former skipper Graeme Smith told sport360.com: "I would bat AB in the top order, preferably at No3, but I don’t think Faf du Plessis (the captain) would allow that to happen."
Nosworthy argues De Villiers should be deployed in such a way that he can have maximum effect on proceedings. In conditions where the ball takes longer to get to the bat, De Villiers’ penchant to get to it as quickly as possible can be compelling. "Quinton (de Kock) and Hashim (Amla) are quite capable of doing a good job at the top, but AB is better. I don’t care who we have up front, we need a guy like AB. In those conditions, you need someone who can go hard at the ball while it is still hard."
Nosworthy believes De Kock could have a long run at the top of the order.
"He will probably stay at the top of the order. He’s left-handed and brings a different dynamic.
Overall, Nosworthy is happy with the manpower the Proteas have assembled for the global tournament. "I don’t think there is a problem with our batting line-up.
"I think the biggest challenge the team has is coming up with the right combinations."
Change: 1.19%
Change: 1.36%
Change: 2.19%
Change: 1.49%
Change: -0.77%
Data supplied by Profile Data
Change: -0.19%
Change: 0.69%
Change: 1.19%
Change: 0.00%
Change: 0.44%
Data supplied by Profile Data
Change: 0.62%
Change: 0.61%
Change: 0.23%
Change: 0.52%
Change: 0.12%
Data supplied by Profile Data
Change: -0.21%
Change: -1.22%
Change: -0.69%
Change: -0.51%
Change: 0.07%
Data supplied by Profile Data