Trust.
That’s all Proteas white-ball coach Rob Walter can hang on to after his team suffered a first-ever ODI clean sweep at home after Pakistan cruised to a 3-0 series victory at the Wanderers.
Walter certainly does not have much else after watching his team deliver yet another inept batting exhibition which demonstrated virtually none of the requirements necessary in developing a substantial innings in ODI cricket.
The memories of the Proteas’ march to the last year’s World Cup semi-final in India on the basis of heavy run-scoring may fade a little more after each current disappointment, but Walter is hanging on to it for dear life.
"I know they'll shine through when it comes to these world events, these marquee events. The guys tend to step up. They tend to bring their best cricket. We've seen that for two World Cups in a row," Walter said.
The Proteas’ record at major ICC events in comparison to bilateral series is markedly different. Whereas Walter has only overseen two ODI series and a singular T20I series victory since his appointment 18 months ago, he has led the Proteas to a 50-overs World Cup semi-final and a first-ever ICC T20 World Cup final.
There are a myriad of reasons for the contrasting fortunes with player availability - or rather lack thereof – for bilateral series being a major concern. Equally, in the past the Proteas have been able to prepare adequately for major tournaments.
Walter will have no such luxury ahead of next year’s ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan. The full ODI squad will not be available for the ODI tri-series leading into the Champions Trophy with leading players still participating in the play-off rounds of the SA20.
Walter is fully aware of this, but once again has to rely on the trust factor that his players have the necessary experience and quality to stand up when it really matters.
"The reality is the lead up into the Champions Trophy won't be anything like the lead up to the World Cup. That's the reality of the way the schedule is stacked up. But at the end of the day, I've just got to trust in the quality of the players," he said.
"Obviously, the switching in codes will potentially pose a little bit of a challenge to us. But again, it's not like the guys have not played 50-over cricket. So, I trust that when the time comes, we'll be there."
While Walter is juggling an injury list that contains seven of the leading fast bowlers in the country, the Proteas have lacked the ability to put together big totals throughout the series against Pakistan.
That has primarily been due to the current century drought among the Proteas’ batters in one-day cricket unlike Pakistan opener Saim Ayub, who struck two centuries in the series.
"As a batting unit, we've spoken about someone taking pride in getting in and getting a big hundred and to be fair, we just haven't been able to convert anything into really substantial knocks or partnerships in this series," Walter said.
"It's not like we're unaware. Some of it is down to batting error and others down to bowling quality and we also have to acknowledge that."
"If you look at Tony de Zorzi's knock (at the Wanderers), he was batting beautifully and then he got a brute of a ball that got him out at the end of the day.
“How do you assess that and what conversations do you have?
“I just want him to continue to play like he was playing because he was putting our noses in front up until that point. These things do happen and ultimately I think it's important to know that the players themselves want to be better. They want to convert. They want to get big hundreds.
“It's not through any lack of want. And again, I have to trust that that conversion will start happening and hopefully sooner rather than later."