- Rocks captain Pieter Malan has lamented that T20 cricket does not value suitable hitters because of their strike rates.
- Malan’s strike rate of 118.70 in last season’s Cricket South Africa T20 Challenge was slower than Tristan Stubbs’ 183.12, but Malan was a tournament winner.
- Malan is also looking forward to how the promotion/relegation battle will play out this season.
Rocks captain and former Proteas Test opener Pieter Malan echoed his dismay at how the game of cricket no longer values its type of hitter.
The 33-year-old from Mbombela, who is the older brother of Proteas limited run fly-half Janneman, has a 116.78 completion rate to match his 1,635 points in 52 appearances.
Last season, Malan had the highest score with 56 balls and 71 in the Cricket South Africa T20 Challenge final against Titans.
The innings, which made up more than half of Boland’s team’s final total of 138, were enough for them to clinch the title.
Malan finished the tournament as the top points creator with 368 to 46. He included five 50s at a strike rate of 118.70, but it was Tristan Stubbs who left the biggest impression with his 293 points scored. at 183.12.
READ | Dewald ‘Baby AB’ Brevis hits 57 as Titans crush Dolphins in CSA T20 opener
Malan reluctantly accepted that the T20 world path does not value toughness, but said he would try to crack a bit more at the top of the command.
“Apparently it’s not about runs anymore, it’s about strike rates,” Malan told News24 Sport at the Cricket South Africa season launch at Potchefstroom on Monday.
“It seems that’s what the cricketing world is all about at the moment, so I think I’ll pay a little more attention to it.
“It’s disappointing that cricket departs from context, does what it takes to win games and just looks at statistics.
“It’s a dangerous trend I’ve seen in England because people only play for their stats and not for the team.
“The cricket market values strike rates, so that’s what I have to be careful about.”
However, Malan’s runs at T20 level left him with a sense of satisfaction and hope that the Rocks, who were disappointing in 50-Over and Four-Day Cricket, will be better in those departments.
ENVELOPE | CSA T20 Challenge: Brevis plays with bat as Titans beat Dolphins
They also have a new coach in former Proteas batsman JP Duminy, who interned with the Lions as a batting coach and strategic batting consultant with the Proteas last year.
“Last season was quite rewarding in that we finished with a trophy, that’s why you play cricket,” Malan said.
“We play to win games and win trophies, but we have a lot of cricket to play. I think we have a stronger team this year.
“I’m excited to see what the boys are going to do this year.”
The 2022/23 season also comes with a promotion/relegation battle which will see the lowest ranked Division 1 side make way for the top Division Two side.
The Knights, who only have four points, are most in danger, with the Dragons and Dolphins above them at 10 each.
Due to winning the T20 Challenge which earned them 15 points, the Rocks are down to 19 and a competition will most likely guarantee their safety.
Malan, who played for Lord County-based Middlesex County, was at the heart of promotion/relegation matters as his county won promotion to the First Division by finishing second behind Nottinghamshire.
READ ALSO | Bavuma ‘relieved’ as Proteas finds World Cup rhythm Down Under
Malan, who was capped three times by South Africa in the 2019/20 home series against England, said it would be interesting to see how the promotion/relegation system plays out.
“I want to bring my team to a point where if we don’t win trophies, we have to be competitive in every tournament we play,” Malan said.
“The Titans are a good example of that because they won one trophy but made two other finals.
“I got a little taste of what it was like in the UK, but it’s something new in South Africa and I’m not sure everyone is ready for it.
“It’s going to be really interesting to see how it goes.”
