South Africa still 'trying to build a brand' in ODI cricket, says batting coach JP Duminy

Batting coach JP Duminy insists South Africa are still "trying to build a brand" in the 50-over format after a chastening defeat to India in the first ODI at the Wanderers on Sunday.

The home team were bundled out for a paltry total of 116 before India knocked off the target in the 17th over with eight wickets in hand.

Proteas captain Aiden Markram had won the toss and opted to bat first in tricky conditions and quickly found themselves in a spot of bother as India seamers Arshdeep Singh (5-37) and Avesh Khan (4-27) wreaked havoc.

Duminy has been in charge of the Proteas' batters in the white-ball formats since February and has seen fluctuating performances, especially in ODIs.

At the World Cup in India, the Proteas broke the record for the highest ever total in the tournament while they were also dismissed for 83 against the hosts and then 212 in the semi-final.

Speaking after the loss at the Wanderers, Duminy said: "When you are trying to build a brand and a style of play, you are potentially going to have those contrasting experiences.

"That's where the learning happens. Part of how you find consistency is actually experiencing either or and then understanding why things are happening.

"That's the journey for us. When it's good, we are really good. When conditions are good, we can score 400 but how do we still find our way to 280 on a tough wicket? That's the question for us."

Duminy also defended Markram's decision to bat first at the Bullring, pointing out that the batters did not execute in difficult conditions.

"You make decisions based on the information that you have," he said. "Historically, you think that if you get through the new ball period, it's a good place to bat and you put up a good score, from where there's a tendency for turn and the pitch becoming slower.

"That means the chase becomes harder, but they ended up batting in the best part of the day, which was the back end of the first innings.

"I don't think we made the wrong call, but that was the information we had and made the decision. When we're not executing, these questions are going to be asked.

"For us, it's about understanding the intent option, where do we reflect around that and where we could be better."

The Proteas have an opportunity to rectify their mistakes in the second ODI of the three-match series that takes place in Gqeberha on Tuesday.

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