South Africa Vs Sri Lanka: We Have Answered a Lot of Questions – Ottis Gibson

South Africa head coach, Ottis Gibson is confident that his side will make few changes for the remainder of the One-day Internationals against hosts Sri Lanka after the Proteas pocketed the series with an unassailable lead of 3-0.

Meanwhile, the Proteas will miss their regular skipper Faf du Plessis due to a shoulder injury. However, wicketkeeper-batsman Quinton de Kock will lead the side in the remaining two ODIs while Jean-Paul Duminy will be at the helm in the Twenty20 Internationals.

On the eve of the fourth ODI, Ottis Gibson admitted that the intention of making changes was there from the outset. The Proteas will face the Lions on August 8 (Wednesday) in the fourth game at Pallekale.

“We have not finalised who we are going to look at in the fourth ODI, but I am pretty sure we will make some changes,” Gibson said.

Gloveman Heinrich Klaasen, who is recovering from a groin injury is likely to replace injured du Plessis. He was in line to play the last game but pulled himself out of it due to some problems.

“Fingers crossed that Klaasen will be okay to play tomorrow. He was quite close to playing the last game, but he himself felt that although running on a straight line he was fine, certain movements where he has to turn laterally he was feeling unsteady,” explained Gibson.

South Africa getting ready for the ICC World Cup 2019: Ottis Gibson

South Africa has been trying out more and more players while having a major policy in mind for the coveted event in England, next year. Gibson also revealed that leaving out leg-spinner Imran Tahir from this Sri Lanka series was also a part of the plan.

“The last 10 ODIs have been about getting ourselves ready for the World Cup,” continues Gibson.

 

“In the last match, Faf went from No.3 to No.4, and Reeza Hendricks has come and done very well at No.3,” he added.

 

“We have left Imran Tahir at home in order to look at another spinner and Tabraiz Shamsi has done well. We still have to look at Keshav Maharaj who is our No.1 Test spinner. A lot of questions have been answered but there’s a lot more we could do,” Ottis Gibson concluded.