CSA chief medical officer Dr Hashendra Ramjee believes Gerald Coetzee and Marco Jansen will benefit from their recent 12-week conditioning programmes.
Both fast bowlers returned to Proteas action in the first T20I against India at Kingsmead on Friday after completing a programme that focused on strength, endurance and skills development.
“Our expectation is that they perform at the same level or better, and that they can sustain that [level] starting in the T20s with India, then the Tests against Sri Lanka, the full series with Pakistan, the SA20, Champions Trophy, and yes, the IPL,” Ramjee told the Sunday Times.
“We almost have a situation where there isn’t a pre-season,” he added. “We have cricket happening on a continuous basis. And that means from a medical perspective, in conjunction with coaches, we have to change our behaviour in terms of how players are managed.
“We’re looking at a 12-month calendar and assessing how it can be managed. I’m not saying it wasn’t the case in the past, but that level of professionalism is taking on a different perspective in terms of how the players evaluate and understand themselves.”
Coetzee took 3-37 in his four overs against India on Friday (watch video below), while Jansen picked up 1-24 in his four overs.
The second T20I takes place at St George’s Park on Sunday (4pm).
Photo: Darren Stewart/Gallo Images
