Dubai UNI Jan 29
Asthe ICC Men’s U19 Cricket World Cup moves to the Super Six phase, South Africa senior quickie Anrich Nortje has given his advice to the future stars desperate to help their team qualify for the semi-finals.
Twelve teams remain in the hunt for the trophy via the Super Six groups, with teams carrying over their group stage points accrued against teams alsoprogressing to the next phase.
Watching on as a tournament ambassador, the Proteas fast bowler has been impressed by the demeanouro f the players at the tournament in spite of tournament pressures, inparticular looking to the young men leading their teams in front of aglobal audience.
“The one thing that has stood out for me, sofar in the tournament at least, is how everyone has looked so calm andcomposed on the field,” Nortje reflected in a column for the ICC’s Online Media Zone. “I’d still go with South Africa, Australia, India, and England,” Nortje said.
“Speaking to the captains pre-tournament, theywere all very approachable and positive, and it didn’t feel like youwere about to enter a tense World Cup environment. It just looked likethey were so focused and knew what to do. They were relaxed,” Nortje said.
Thecool and calm of the sides still in the running for the trophy will betested further from January 30, with Group A and D teams facing off, as well as combatants from groups B and C.
For Nortje, it is nowagainst tougher opponents and when the tournament moves closer to aclimax where the demands and intensity of the tournament ramp up.
“It’salways tough. Once you get beyond the first stage in any tournament andyou get closer to the end, it does get really hard, bodies are a littlemore tired and small mistakes begin to creep in, those can cause a bitof frustration in a team,” he said.
“This is where the best separatethemselves from the rest. The teams that maintain their composure,assess their conditions and surroundings and what is required of themthe best will most likely come out on top. It is hard, as there will be alot of pressure,” Nortje said.
“I won’t say there will be fear of failure, butthat does enter your thinking. You don’t want to fail or disappoint.You want to do really well,” he said.
There has been an extraexpectation on his young countrymen, thrust into playing a tournament ashosts late after the tournament relocation. Despite a defeat toEngland, Juan James’ side topped a strong group also including the WestIndies and Scotland, and from the outside it looks as if they arerelishing the chance to play at home.
“Whether they feel it ornot, there is pressure playing at home. It is a big tournament and youwant to do well for everyone you represent,” Nortje said.
“You’ve got a lot of extra support that you’ve never had in your life. So there’s a certainexpectation to do well, but it’s something you have to put behind youand just focus ball-by-ball, game-by-game,” he said.
