Levi a must for ODIs

I thoroughly enjoyed Richard Levi's magnificent display of power hitting against the Black Caps. It was a stunning performance by a player who for quite a while now has been strongly suggesting that he has the ability to take the game away from the opposition in both T20 and ODI cricket.

What made the innings more special was that his batting display was a clear example of good constructive power hitting rather than slogging. Levi stood still at the crease, played the ball late and straight as often as possible. By standing still for as long as possible he allowed himself all the options available and was particularly severe on anything directed at leg stump.

My experience of the T20 format has been from the outset that the players who stand still and endeavour to hit straight have more success on a consistent basis than the ones who improvise too much or who hit across the line too often.

Amazingly there seems to be doubt in some quarters whether Levi should be playing in the one-day internationals as well. The answer is simple. Of course he should be added to the squad to stay in New Zealand for the three one-day matches and he should open in all of them.

In Levi South Africa has a player with rare ability to take the game away from the opposition. Why not use him and expose him to the fifty over game as well? A decision not to do so will be selection madness.

There are some concerns evidently about his technique for the longer version of the game. I don't buy that for a minute. One doesn't have to have the perfect technique to be successful in any form of the game.

David Warner is a good example. He started out rough and ready and refined what he had to make himself into a successful opener at all levels of the game. Levi could do exactly the same. If Levi is given an opportunity at the fifty over game and it doesn't work then there is nothing lost. If he isn't given an opportunity it will be a travesty.

The Proteas are now on equal footing as far as results are concerned with the Kiwis in this series. The decider is on Wednesday but I believe that mentally this dominant victory will have put a dent in the confidence of the high-flying Kiwis.

Looking at their body language during the Levi onslaught one could see the self-doubt creeping in. The bottom line is that they are a gutsy side that will give it their all, but they are not a team strong enough to beat the Proteas when the South African side play to the best of their ability.

As far as the rest of the South African performance is concerned they have to still improve in the bowling department. The reluctance from some of the bowlers to bowl the yorker consistently remains a problem. The tactical construction of an over is also not going as well as it should at present.

Allan Donald has a lot to do in both respects to improve the situation. Marchant de Lange was a good inclusion into the Proteas line-up and he started to display an ability to execute the yorker properly. There should be more of that in the final T20 and also during the coming one-day series. After all conditions should be pretty much the same for the remaining T20 match and the one-day matches that follow. The bowlers will be under pressure and the execution of a good yorker will be a valuable asset.

It is time for the Proteas now to maintain their intensity and focus and dominate the Kiwis from ball one in the final T20 in a sensible, aggressive fashion. Richard Levi has laid the foundation for this and I am sure there is plenty more to come from him and the rest of the team.

The Black Caps need their injured players back, particularly Ross Taylor. That won't happen for a while. Jesse Ryder might be back soon. This will help the Kiwis but shouldn't be enough to make a difference. Hopefully this last victory will give the Proteas momentum for the rest of the tour. There is no reason why it should not.