South African all-rounder Wayne Parnell praises Indian batter Suryakumar Yadav and says he’s probably the best T20 batter at the moment.
Wayne Parnell praises Suryakumar Yadav
Suryakumar Yadav currently holds the second position in the ICC T20I ranking for batters. Suryakumar Yadav smashed a 33-ball half-century and drags India to register an 8-wicket victory over South Africa on a tricky track in the series-opener.
During the South Africa tour of India 2022, both teams will play 3 T20I matches and as many as ODI matches before heading to ICC T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia.
“Personally from what I’ve watched in the last couple of months, I think he’s probably the best T20 batter at the moment. He scores 360-degree which is very difficult for bowlers to defend,” he said on the eve of the second and penultimate T20I of the series.
Parnell insisted that their defeat in the first T20I of the series was an aberration and there’s no need to panic before the T20 World Cup 2022.
“It’s about being strong and focussed on each ball. He’s allowed to play good shots, but the other day he was lucky as well. He’s certainly a guy whom I enjoyed watching the last couple of months. He’s certainly playing good cricket,” Parnell said.
Parnell insisted that their flop show in the first T20I was an aberration and there’s no need to panic before the T20 World Cup in Australia.
“It’s just one of those things. It wasn’t a good T20 wicket and they bowled really well, but our batters have been world class in the last couple of years so there’s nothing to panic about,” he said.
On their meek show in the powerplay when they were stuttering 9 for five, Parnell said, “It’s a bit of a Catch-22 situation really. Certainly experience tells you that new ball does swing so you have to have a look at the first one-two overs.”
“We have to credit the Indian seamers who bowled really well. We will have to define ways to counter that in the second game.”
Kagiso Rabada and Parnell hit the right lengths but the likes of Anrich Nortje and Tabraiz Shamsi struggled badly in the first match as the visitors looked one seamer short.
“Competition is good for the spots. Every single fast bowlers is different and has different skill sets. It’s a positive sign for us. It also means that when we are presented with any particular condition, we can play a certain set of fast bowlers so I think personally having the variety that we have is really exciting,” he said.
On World Cup preparation, he said: “It’s been very good over the last few months. We were here in June, then went on a UK tour, coming back here again before going to Australia. Everyone is in really good spirits and looking forward to next couple of T20Is and the ODIs as well.”
The second T20I match of the series will be played on October 2 in Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati.
