Nortje backing the Proteas to bounce back in Lucknow

Fast bowler Anrich Nortje has backed the Proteas “to be better” in Wednesday’s fourth T20I against India in Lucknow.

The Proteas face a do-or-die situation after succumbing in the first and third matches of the series with India leading 2-1 with two matches remaining. 

Although the visitors' batting unit failed in the last match in Dharamsala, the new-ball bowlers were also loose which allowed the Indian openers to get off to a flyer in the run-chase. 

Nortje, though, playing in just his second match upon return to international cricket after an 18-month absence was economical with figures of 0/14 in three overs, and is confident his teammates will bounce back. 

“We back what we do, 100%,” Nortje said.

“We back how we play. Just got to be better, got to be better at certain stages, and we just got to back it. So, I don't think there's anything to change, it's just to go out, express ourselves, do what we do as players, and then having the right players in the right spots.”

Nortje maintained that it would come down to once again assessing the conditions on the night.

“I think our main goal is to try and assess conditions as quickly as we can,” he said. “Once the first ball is bowled, not to have a preconceived idea of what to expect and then be shocked when you get the wicket on the day.

“I think we've actually been really good at it. One or two games didn't look like it maybe, but I think we've been really good at assessing conditions and understanding what to do and trying to implement on the park rather than having an idea of what the computer says we have to do.

“I think once the first ball gets bowled, then we'll just see what we have to do exactly.”

Furthermore, Nortje is enjoying being back in the national frame after his lengthy absence. He has stressed that he is “taking it game by game” and not putting any pressure on himself to perform, even though there is a T20 World Cup squad place to play for in a couple of months. 

“It's nice to be back. Nice to be in the Proteas shirt again,” he said.

“Really missed it and really enjoyed my time here. Sort of happy with the progress. There's still a lot of cricket to play.

“We go back into SA20 as well, which is quite a few games back-to-back. So, I'm just trying to focus on every game, try and improve as much as I can, but obviously be realistic as well. 

“I think, so far, I've been really happy with the progress of where I've come to and just try and build on whatever I can and whatever I'm working on going forward into the next month or two.

“Hopefully, I can be in the spot, but if not, for me it's just to try and focus game by game, day by day, and just try and get better every day. I've really been enjoying the time back and it's been great to be with the team.”

SQUADS FOR LUCKNOW

Proteas: Aiden Markram (captain), Ottneil Baartman, Corbin Bosch, Dewald Brevis, Quinton de Kock, Donovan Ferreira, Reeza Hendricks, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, George Linde, Lutho Sipamla, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Tristan Stubbs

India: Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Shubman Gill, Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Sanju Samson, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Washington Sundar