Adapt or perish: Ashwell Prince's call to Proteas ahead of second T20I against India

Proteas batting coach Ashwell Prince has called on the visitors to be more “adaptable” in the second T20I against India on Thursday in New Chandigarh.

The Proteas were blown away in the first of the five-match series for a record low 74 on a bowler-friendly surface in Cuttack. 

“I thought the pitch was good; not every pitch that you bat on is supposed to be a 220 pitch,” Prince said, after the 105-run defeat. 

“The Indian bowlers asked a lot of good questions and ultimately we weren't able to answer. I think, as a cricketer, that should be a massive word (adaptable) in everybody's vocabulary because in cricket matches, you pitch up. 

“When you look down at the surface, you have an idea of what it's going to do, but you don't really know what it's going to do until you bat and bowl on it. Being able to adapt to what it's doing on the day, that's the key.”

India’s top-order had also struggled with the hosts reduced to 104/5, before all-rounder Hardik Pandya changed the course of the contest with an electrifying 59 not out off 28 balls. 

Prince believes Pandya showed the Proteas the template on how to score runs on a tricky surface.

“Hardik, obviously, played an outstanding innings. He picked the right moments to attack with the spin on initially because there wasn't a lot of spin on offer,” he said.

“So, he got a couple of early sixes away and then against the seamers towards the end. He put the pressure onto them and he struck the ball as cleanly as ever. 

“He's a six hitter but he's also calm and I think identifying the right balls to attack, that comes with a lot of experience. As soon as the ball was in his areas that he's really strong at, he put a good swing on it, no half measures. 

“I think most of the time when Hardik hits it, he's not tentative. There's clarity in his thinking and there's clarity in his execution and it was an outstanding innings.”

The Proteas have the experienced Reeza Hendricks as part of the squad, and could consider beefing up the starting XI with the 36-year-old, but Prince feels that the entire batting unit needs to take greater accountability.

“There has been a lot of changes in terms of personnel, injury, etc, but we don't want to use them as excuses,” he said.

“I think every match that we put XI out there, we expect to win, regardless of the injuries. I think the stats speak for themselves. We need to find more consistency and, obviously after batting, performance and such, that's one department that we'll have to improve on quickly.

"I thought the Indian bowlers, quite formidable bowling attack, asked a lot of good questions. Ultimately, as a batter, we were able to answer the questions and we weren't up to the task.”