Coach Geoffrey Toyana is confident that the captaincy issues of the past few days have been sufficiently addressed and that the Highveld Lions are mentally ready to revive their RAM SLAM T20 campaign, starting with Wednesday’s game against the Cape Cobras at Boland Park.
The Lions were rocked on Sunday morning by Alviro Petersen’s resignation ahead of a match against the Knights, which the Lions went on to lose by nine wickets.
Thami Tsolekile has taken up the captaincy reins for the rest of the competition, in which the Lions have lost their first two games, and Toyana believes the players’ focus can now be on the future.
“It has been quite disruptive with Alviro stepping down but we’re all professionals so we need to move on,” said Toyana. “We know that it’s been a difficult season and we haven’t played good cricket so it’s time that we turned the corner.
“This is a very important game for us because it could basically keep us alive in the competition.”
The Lions will travel with the same squad that played in Bloemfontein on the weekend, and will need to be at their best against a team who have an embarrassment of riches at their disposal.
The Cobras rested Graeme Smith for the win over the Warriors as a precaution after Smith suffered a mildly stiff back, and also left Richard Levi out of a line-up full of internationals and young talent.
Captain Justin Ontong now admits that selection meetings are becoming difficult affairs as they work out whom to leave out.
“We’re very fortunate to have players of such a high calibre, and they’re all match-winners and that’s what you need in this format,” he said. “The squad understands that when it comes to selection it could be difficult explaining it to the guys who are left out.”
Ontong now has Vernon Philander back among the bowling group and said a call on who would be picked on Wednesday was yet to be made. However, he confirmed that previous records would be taken into account, and that Levi’s excellent record at Boland Park would probably see the opener return.
Justin Kemp will sit the match out as he awaits the birth of his child, although he is expected to be back in action on the weekend.
HEAD TO HEAD – Cape Cobras vs. Highveld Lions
Matches Played 12
Cobras Win 04
Lions Win 07
Tie 01
No Result 00
CURRENT STANDINGS
| Teams | Mat | Won | Lost | Tied | N/R | Pts | Net RR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dolphins | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | +0.474 |
| Cape Cobras | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 8 | +0.444 |
| Warriors | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 8 | +0.239 |
| Titans | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | -0.101 |
| Knights | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4 | -0.172 |
| Lions | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -0.953 |
James Buttler
As the editor of World Cricket Badger he is intent on building the website to give quality coverage of the domestic game around the world.
He is also the presenter of the Cricket Badger Radio Show on Radio Yorkshire every Tuesday evening between 7-9pm UK time.
James was the full-time Media Manager at Yorkshire County Cricket Club between 2007 and 2010.
James is a published author, a writer/video contributor to many cricket publications and a complete cricket badger!
Latest posts by James Buttler (see all)
- #CWC15: South Africa geared up for tight Sri Lanka contest - March 16, 2015
- #UAE15: Bon voyage Derbyshire as Champions Yorkshire land in Abu Dhabi - March 13, 2015
- Sussex sign Mahela Jayawardene for NatWest T20 Blast - March 13, 2015
