Batting coach Dale Benkenstein says the Proteas need to adapt to the slowness of the India spin attack. 

South Africa were thrashed by nine wickets at Centurion in the second ODI on Sunday, with India’s spinners taking eight wickets between them.

While stand-in captain Aiden Markram said spin was not a massive issue for his side, Benkenstein believed the pace with which they bowled was.

ALSO READ: Markram: Spin not a massive danger

‘They bowl very slowly and our wrist spinners bowl quite fast. To be honest, in South Africa we don’t get a lot of spin. It is always an issue and it is something that I’m trying to introduce in our daily practices.

‘We were quite amazed at how slow they actually bowl and obviously when you a wrist spinner the slower you bowl the more the ball turns on any surface.

‘But I feel that because of the slowness there are also scoring opportunities and I would much rather have our batsmen look for that instead of just prodding around.’

The Proteas struggled with Yuzvendra Chahal (5-22) and Kuldeep Yadav (3-20) on Sunday. Benkenstein said it would be difficult for the Proteas batsman to prepare for them specifically.

‘We’ve had a good look at them now and I’m pretty sure our performances will improve as the series go on,’ he added.

‘That’s the beauty of international cricket, we have to come up with a plan. Every batter has the ability to do it. We’ve now had two games and there are no excuses.

‘We have a few net bowlers who come in who are a bit slower, we try and replicate it as best as we can. You saw Justin Ontong bowling with his knee down trying to bowl like the offie. As management and coaches, we try to give the guys everything that we can.

‘But, at the end of the day, the batters have to work it out and they have to play to their own game plan and do the job in the middle.

‘There isn’t much more you can do in the nets, you are not going to get them to come bowl at you.’

Photo: Lee Warren/Gallo Images