Makhaya Ntini hopes for an improved batting performance at Trent Bridge - Cricket News Update
Former South African spearhead, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/M-Ntini-c1865, believes the South African batsmen need to improve their batting at Nottingham in order to level the NatWest series.
A win in the fourth ODI at Lord’s meant that http://www.senore.com/Cricket/England-c56013 took an unbeatable 2-1 lead, which further maintained the home side’s unbeaten run in their own backyard, where they last tasted a series defeat in 2009. However, the Proteas remain in contention to take
the share of the spoils, provided they win the final match, scheduled for September 5.
The poor showing has largely been attributed to the failures of the batting order, which has not been able to match the heights of their recent Test triumph.
Ntini feels that the Proteas have depended too much on the outstanding talent of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/GC-Smith-c1473 has managed to give his side solid opening starts. However, the inability of the middle-order to capitalize has left the team struggling
to match their opponents.
In four matches, skipper http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Faf-du-Plessis-c1427 (24 runs) have failed to deal with the Poms’ bowlers.
Since Amla’s brilliant 150 at Southampton, no South African batsmen managed to notch-up a half-century, and Ntini believes that the long English tour may have started to take its toll on the players, which started in early July and ends on September 12,
following the conclusion of the third T20I.
"We can't only depend on one person from a batting point of view," Ntini said on Tuesday.
"Hashim Amla is the guy we look to and he has been outstanding with his performances. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Allan-Robert-Border-c43726 [De Villiers] has blamed the middle order for not coming up to be counted and he has included himself in that too."
"It all comes to the position now that they've done well in the test matches, but from my point of view, an England tour is always very long. I think they are at that stage now where they may be getting homesick,” the 35-year-old said.
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