With a short break looming in the SuperSport Series cricket competition, several teams will be keen to lay down a marker for the rest of the programme when the next round of matches are played, starting on Thursday.
This weekend’s matches involve two of the competition’s leading sides, log-leaders Warriors and the Titans, but they can expect stiff resistance when they host the Highveld Lions and the Dolphins respectively.
The Warriors jumped to the top of the log with a hard-earned win over the Dolphins last weekend, but they have received some setbacks this week for differing reasons.
Firstly, skipper Davy Jacobs pulled out for the birth of his first child, which is scheduled for Wednesday, while young fast bowler Wayne Parnell learnt something about the relatively restricted life of a professional sportsman when he picked up a one-match suspension for staying out past his curfew during the game against the Dolphins.
The Warriors have moved Arno Jacobs to take his namesake’s spot behind the stumps and brought Michael Smith in as a batsman, while Darryl Brown has come in for Parnell. Paceman Garnett Kruger, who joined the squad last week, was not available for selection due to a calf strain.
Warriors coach Russell Domingo said they were confident Jacobs could do the job as a stand-in wicketkeeper.
”Arno’s done it for us before and he’s a skilful player so he should be fine,” Domingo said.
”Obviously not having Davy is a big blow, but I believe we can handle it.”
Arno Jacobs is again proving to be the Warriors’ leading batsman this season, a position he’s occupied for most of his time with the franchise, but Domingo will be asking for greater support from the remaining batsmen this weekend.
”Although we won last weekend, we didn’t bat that well in either innings,” he said.
”There was a bit in the wicket, but it wasn’t a 174 [Warriors first innings] wicket and we’ll be looking to improve on that.
”We also want a bit more consistency with the ball, especially up front with the new ball where we bowled a bit too short last weekend. The Lions have a really strong batting line-up so it will be a big challenge for our bowlers.”
Domingo’s view is reflected in the fact the Lions can find no place for Vaughn van Jaarsveld, one of their top batsmen in recent years and a player who was in the national one-day touring party in Australia last season.
The Lions also look strong in the bowling department with England left-arm spinner Monty Panesar making his debut for the side and former national fast bowler Andre Nel making a return after injury.
They will add bite to the visiting attack, making it imperative that the Warriors batsmen play to their potential.
In Centurion, the Titans will be looking to put the debacle of their previous match behind them when they face the Dolphins. In the match against the Warriors in Benoni a fortnight ago, the game was abandoned after seven overs because of a sub-standard pitch, a situation which did not reflect well on the franchise and, in particular, the ground authorities.
The game will be replayed in Port Elizabeth from November 12-15, but for now, the Titans will want to focus on the immediate task ahead.
They will be pleased to have national fast bowler Dale Steyn back in the squad and he will add depth and penetration to a formidable-looking attack.
The Dolphins will be smarting at failing to nail down the Warriors last weekend and coach Graham Ford will be looking for a big improvement, especially from the batsmen.
However, against an attack comprising Steyn, the Morkel brothers — Albie and Morne — and left arm spinner Paul Harris, it doesn’t get any easier.
The Titans already have one victory under their belt this season, having defeated the Cobras in Benoni, and they’ll be looking to extend their dominance in the competition by getting full points against the KwaZulu Natal outfit. — Sapa