Moreeng denies dressingroom divide

“Whatever challenges we encounter, which are in every changeroom, we discuss as we go along.” - Hilton Moreeng

Telford Vice / Cape Town

DENIALS weren’t hard to find at a press conference given by South Africa’s coach and captain on Friday, seven days before they need to have found a way past the elephant in their dressingroom.

How would Hilton Moreeng manage the schism in that space about his retention as coach, especially with the start of a series against Pakistan looming next Friday? “There are challenges here and there, internal things we discuss,” Moreeng said. “Regarding the changeroom being divided, it’s not something that has happened. All of us are looking for the way forward — we need to see how we can improve on our last performance in the World Cup. We are building as a team. Whatever challenges we encounter, which are in every changeroom, we discuss as we go along.”

That despite the now common knowledge that senior players want Moreeng replaced, which they have told CSA in writing. He has been in the job for almost 11 years and has guided South Africa to two ODI World Cup semifinals and to the final of this year’s T20 World Cup. But Cricbuzz has learnt some of his players feel the team are succeeding “despite him, not because of him”. They want fresh ideas.

Moreeng staying on at least until the end of the year — his previous contract expired on June 30 — likely led to Suné Luus’ decision to relinquish the captaincy. Why did Moreeng think Luus had walked away six months after becoming the first South Africa captain to take a senior team to a World Cup final? “She decided to step down because she wants to contribute to the team and her performances,” Moreeng said. “It was tough but we had to accept it. That’s how the player feels; she feels she can contribute more.”

Luus averages 26.96 in ODIs as a captain compared to 22.39 when she isn’t. Her T20I strike rate is 100.66 when the buck stops with her and 107.38 when she doesn’t have that responsibility. The differences are on the bigger side of marginal but, more pertinently, she has been succeeded by Laura Wolvaardt, who sources say at first rejected the leadership offer. Was that the case?

“No, that’s not true,” Wolvaardt said. “I had a conversation with the coach and the head selector [Clinton du Preez] and they asked if I wanted to do the role, and I said it had definitely been in the back of my mind for some time and I was excited to get the opportunity. We mutually agreed on the two tours to see if it was something I would respond well to, batting-wise and leadership-wise.”

Wolvaardt has been appointed in an interim capacity for three ODIs and as many T20Is against Pakistan in Karachi from September 1 to 14, and for three ODIs and five T20Is against New Zealand in South Africa from September 24 to October 15. She will “see if it’s something I am able to handle and if I can still focus on my batting with the added responsibility”.

What kind of captain would she be? “I like to think of myself as calm and composed. I’m hoping I am able to bring that onto the field. We’ll see what happens in tight games. I’m more soft-spoken than what other captains might be. I’m going to try and lead through my actions, lead from the front.”

What did Moreeng make of Wolvaardt’s elevation? “She has a very good cricket brain and is a very disciplined cricketer. The way she goes about her game is evident to everyone in the team. I don’t think the responsibility will impact her performance. She knows the importance of both roles she plays in the team. We don’t think it should be a challenge regarding her performances.”

Wolvaardt has played 134 matches for South Africa across the formats. She has been a central cog in their batting unit almost from her debut at 16 in an ODI against England in Benoni in February 2016. “It’s not like I’m coming into a side where I don’t know half the people,” she said. “It’s about making sure I get the best out of the players. My main objective is to see where everyone is at and make sure everyone is ready to go.”

Some of these matters would have been interrogated at a camp in Pretoria from August 9 to 18. “We could speak and find out what the actual challenges are,” Moreeng said. “What needs to be discussed and sorted out is busy being sorted out.”

The rest are in the hands of CSA. Or what Moreeng called “discussions happening above our pay grade”. His position, for instance, has been advertised. That can only cause anxiety. “Uncertainty comes with the job,” Moreeng said. “For us it’s about focusing on what is front of us.” Like the elephant in the room, you would hope.

Cricbuzz