Although South Africa outplayed Bangladesh and clinched the two Twenty20 internationals, paceman Ryan McClaren believes the forthcoming three-ODI series will be anything but easy for the Proteas.
The first of three ODIs will be held tomorrow at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium and McClaren informed that they will need to be on their guard to overcome the formidable Tigers at their own den.
“It is a fresh start. I have had a few months off to work on a couple of things in my game. It is new conditions. This is the first series in Bangladesh. It will be a tough series. They have played a lot of good cricket against India. On a personal front, looking forward to playing for South Africa again,” McClaren told the media at the home of cricket yesterday.
“We will have to see how the wicket is being prepared when compared to the T20s. I can’t imagine it being very different. I think if we apply our ODI basics as consistently as we can, then we stand a good chance. But playing Bangladesh on their home turf is really tough,” he said.
The Proteas will be led by interim skipper Hashim Amla in the absence of champion batsman AB de Villiers, who was granted paternity leave by Cricket South Africa. McClaren informed that even though Amla is a good leader by his own admission, the Proteas will miss the services of their regular ODI captain.
“You will never replace AB. He is a special player. He has been our leader for such a long time. Obviously, he has been an incredible batsman over the years. Again, he’s got something a bit more important happening at home. He’s got a little one on the way,” the 32-year old said.
McClaren stated that they are fully aware of a comeback from the wounded Tigers, who are preparing themselves to play their favourite format – 50-over cricket.
“It is interesting to see from a strategic point of view. Batting teams would try and approach how they structure differently. Maybe they will go slightly harder in the first few overs of the innings. We don’t know, we are waiting to see,” said McClaren, who is returning to the Proteas’ ODI set-up following an eight-month gap.
