Proteas allrounder Wiaan Mulder has had open in the batting in the last two T20 matches against New Zealand.
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Proteas stand-in captain Keshav Maharaj says Wiaan Mulder opening the batting is an experimentation as a result of Jordan Hermann’s series-ending injury.
Many posed questions when they saw Proteas all-rounder Wiaan Mulder walking out to open the batting during the second T20I in Hamilton. After all, Mulder is not known as an opening batter in any format, a feat that encouraged many to raise eyebrows.
However, considering the limitless talents of the all-rounder, Maharaj revealed that coach Shukri Conrad is currently running an experiment which places Mulder at the top of the batting order.
With the Proteas’ senior players released to compete in the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL), it provides an ideal opportunity for Conrad to test the depth of the talent in the country, and, currently, Mulder is at the forefront of those plans.
“Look at the start obviously Tony (de Zorzi) was set up to bat three and then Jordan got injured so he had to go up,” said Maharaj.
“Shuks is obviously trying something with Wiaan (Mulder) but it's just more an experiment rather than something cast in stone just to see the depth in the squad and see what we have from a balance and ability point of view.”
Three games into the ongoing five-match series against New Zealand in their own backyard, South Africa currently trail 2-1, having lost the second and third matches of the series.
However, Maharaj believes that the team still has a chance to complete a series heist, especially with senior Black Caps players set to be released for the IPL, including batters Devon Conway and Daryl Mitchell, and bowler Lockie Ferguson.
“The lovely part about this five-match series is we've still got two opportunities and we won the first one,” said Maharaj.
“Two big players in Lockie, well three actually, Lockie, Devon and Mitchell, so hopefully we can see a little bit of positives from that, but I think it's about focussing on ourselves and how we're going to go about our games.
“I think as much as opposition do change, I still think we're searching for the template as to how to go about our business. There’s still that belief. I mean that's the first thing I mentioned is that we did bowl New Zealand out not so long ago for 90 on a wicket that's a little bit spicy, but I think each guy has to go back and really search in terms of how he is going to go about his business.
“The beauty about this is we can dust ourselves off and hopefully come Sunday have a more polished performance. Not to look too far ahead but it'll be a lovely opportunity for us to go 2-2 in the series and have a final set up for Christchurch. It’s just the process around everything and making sure we're winning more balls with the ball and bat rather than losing more in terms of percentage wise.”
With the fourth T20I set for Sunday, the Proteas will be looking to win the match and level the series to set up a series-deciding final next week.