Kirsten Focuses On 'Important Period' For ODI Team

Kirsten Focuses On 'Important Period' For ODI Team

Gary Kirsten believes this is an important time for the development of his ODI squad

©REUTERS / Action Images

South Africa coach Gary Kirsten has marked down his side's upcoming One-Day International series against Pakistan as part of an 'important period' for the Proteas.

The five-match series, which begins in Bloemfontein on Sunday (10th March) is one of seven matches for South Africa ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy in England and Wales in June.

It is also part of an extended run of limited overs matches before the Test team is back in action, enabling Kirsten and his coaching team to focus on the shorter formats of the game.

"We have 20 games on the trot before we play another Test match so we are able to have a good focus on our one-day team,” Kirsten said

"This is an important period for the ODI team; I think what is important for us is that we know that we can create some momentum in this team.

"We know that with the players that we have got we are able to win games in difficult situations and that is what it ultimately boils down to. We are all looking forward to the challenge that lies ahead in the next six months or so."

That is a period in which South Africa take on Pakistan home and away, head to England and Wales for the Champions Trophy - an event they won back in 1998 - and then travel to Sri Lanka.

And in order to keep his players fresh, Kirsten says there is bound to be a certain amount of squad rotation, and that senior players being rested is something that is now part of the modern game.

"I think that the players that are here are the best players in the country; that is why they are selected People often say we are experimenting. We are not experimenting, we are playing the best players.

"You have to have a squad, you can’t just have 11, you have to be able to move with the squad. We did that with the Test squad where we had a lot of change-ups. We are looking at the best 18 players knowing that we need to be able to shift and move around."

© Cricket World 2013