Cape Town – When Paul Adams was handed the role of Cape Cobras coach at the beginning of last season, there were many questions relating to his personality rather than his capabilities.
Was Adams too close to the majority of players he only recently played with, or simply put: just too much of a nice guy to lead a professional franchise?
Well, Adams certainly showed his ruthless streak on Monday. Veteran pace bowler Johann Louw will play no part in this week’s two away 1-Day Cup fixtures, starting with the trip to face the Knights in Bloemfontein on Wednesday.
Not even the tense victory over the Titans at Centurion last Friday in the season opener could prevent Louw’s fate, with Adams paying no attention to the theory of not changing a winning team.
Louw bowled five indifferent overs, conceding 35 runs at seven runs to the over, with hard-hitting Titans all-rounder David Wiese in particular feasting on Louw’s array of misdirected slower balls.
“I don’t think it’s a knee-jerk reaction,” Adams told the Cape Times. “Hottie (Louw) has been struggling with his rhythm and is also coming off an injury that hampered his pre-season. He is a seasoned campaigner, and knows his game inside out, so I’m sure he will work hard on getting back into the team.”
Young paceman Lizaad Williams is the beneficiary of Louw’s axing, with the 20-year-old called back into the squad after a solid debut season last season while still a teenager.
Williams bowls differently to Louw, with the elder statesman more a “back of a length” bowler compared to Williams’s skiddy-type deliveries.
Adams has not committed to playing Williams in the City of Roses just yet, with all-rounder Shaheen Khan also very much in the mix at this stage. Khan could be the second Cobras debutant in as many games after batsman Omphile Ramela gained his first one-day cap last time out.
“Lizzie is an attractive option, as he brings a lot of energy to the side. He bowls at a good pace and is eager to learn all the time,” Adams said.
“We’re also very keen to get Shaheen into the side because he has the potential to be a genuine all-rounder, which will really give us options going forward. He will add some depth to our batting coming in at number eight, which is an attractive prospect, but we’ll make that decision once we see the conditions in Bloem.”
One of the two will probably assume the role of first-change bowler behind the impressive new-ball pairing of Charl Langeveldt and Beuran Hendricks. The duo complimented each other superbly at SuperSport Park last Friday.
Hendricks, the undoubted spearhead of the Cobras attack now after a glorious winter with the SA A side, turned up the rev-counter by rushing all the Titans batsmen with the speed he generated through the air from his left-arm over the wicket angle.
At 38, Langeveldt is 15 years Hendricks’s senior and may not quite have the pace to match his opening partner, but he certainly showed he has lost none of his skill or swing over the years. He was superb upfront and also back to his best in performing his speciality of delivering accurately at the death, with his famous “knuckle ball” bamboozling the Titans tail.
“I am very excited about our attack at the moment. Langes (Langeveldt) looks rejuvenated this season, he’s also not playing any first-class cricket this season for Boland which will hopefully keep him fresh throughout our campaign. He had an ice pack on his calf today at training, but that’s just a precautionary measure to keep him well oiled,” Adams said.
“Beuran ... what more can I say about him that I haven’t said all winter. He must just keep his head down and continue to work on his game. The rest will take care of itself.”
The Cobras also had an intensive fielding session yesterday, with Adams putting his charges through their paces after a sloppy catching display in the opening game.
The joint-defending champions spilled three simple chances, with Yaseen Vallie, captain Justin Ontong and Dane Piedt being the culprits.
“I am not too concerned with the dropped catches at this early stage of the season, although it is disappointing to be dropping catches at any time. They are our best fielders too, so I think it’s more just about feeling the pace of the game again,” he said.
CAPE COBRAS SQUAD
Andrew Puttick, Dane Vilas (wk), Omphile Ramela, Stiaan van Zyl, Justin Ontong (capt), Yaseen Vallie, Justin Kemp, Shaheen Khan, Dane Piedt, Lizaad Williams, Beuran Hendricks, Charl Langeveldt, Siya Simetu.
FIXTURES
Wednesday
Bloemfontein: Knights v Cape Cobras
Potchefstroom: Highveld Lions v Warriors.
*Both matches start at 3pm
CAPE TIMES