JP Duminy wants to better his performances but wary of Indian fightback in ODI series
South African all-rounder JP Duminy is wary of an Indian fightback in the upcoming ODI series and has urged the South African side to start on a winning note, IBNLive reports. The 31-year-old also laid emphasis on the importance of team bonding, especially on long tours, such as their ongoing tour of India.
Talking about the ODI series which kicks off in Kanpur on October 11, Duminy said that he is expecting the 5-match series to be a tough one but added that the South African side are more than ready for the challenge.
"As a team, we definitely expect them to put in a big performance in the two series. We are under no illusion that it is going to be a walkover in the ODI series. We know that we have to fight hard and play well and take it one game at a time," Duminy said. "Our focus is on Kanpur and hopefully we can start off well in that series as well. That is going to give us a lot of confidence. We know that they are a great ODI team so it is important for us to start off well in the ODI series."
Duminy further laid emphasis on how winning the first match of any series can be a decisive factor in deciding the outcome of the series.
"Coming here most of the guys were pretty fresh and excited to be playing cricket again. Leading up to that week before that first game, we knew that it was important the way we started. If we can compete for the majority of the game, we give ourselves a good chance of coming out on top," Duminy said. "We spoke long and hard coming here... It can get quite painful if you start off in the wrong fashion. We are happy the way we have started, but we also know that there is a lot of hard work ahead of us."
Duminy wants to perform much better
Duminy was one of the standout performers in the recently concluded T20 series which the visitors won 2-0 after the final match at Kolkata was washed out on Thursday. The left-hander played a match-winning knock of 68* from 34 balls in the series opener at Dharamsala, helping South Africa chase down the target of 200.
"It was a big one for us especially chasing 200 gave us a lot of confidence going into the second T20I. That is going to be a big tick for us in the T20 format. With the results that we have got here now, they will give us a lot of confidence going into the T20 series against England and Australia and obviously the World cup coming in a few months," he said.
Worryingly for India, Duminy, who is yet to be dismissed in the tour, is aiming for even better performances with both bat and bowl.
"I would definitely put it down as one of my better innings, especially in International cricket in the shorter format. But I still believe that there is a lot more to come from myself and I can still contribute a lot more; not only with the bat but also with the ball. I guess the key for me is to stay hungry to perform," Duminy said.
Duminy praises the camaraderie within the South African team
The tour to India which lasts for 72 days is South Africa’s biggest away series to date and Duminy acknowledges that team bonding is a crucial factor in such circumstances, but added that the camaraderie within the South African team is very good.
"It doesn't matter which part of the world we are in. No matter what challenges we face, we face it head on. There are not too many arguments going on in the team room. We find ways of enjoying ourselves in a long tour,” Duminy said. "That is important for us especially when you are coming to a place where there is not a lot to do outside the hotel and you are coming to a place for such a long period of time.”
"It can get you down at times; so it is important that we gel as a unit and gel as a team. We have got a great camaraderie within the team and everybody plays for one another. Everybody wants each other to do well and we enjoy each others' success. That is an important component for a successful team," Duminy said.?