Piedt to adopt Indian approach
Nashua Mobile Cape Cobras spinner Dane Piedt will be looking to embrace “a more chilled” style of bowling when the new Sunfoil Series campaign begins next week after spending time in India during the off-season.
The 22-year-old was part of a 13-man group that attended a nine-day high level training camp in Bangalore last month where they spent time with experienced coaches Sunil Joshi and Umesh Patwal.
The trip was arranged by Cricket South Africa (CSA) to expose the players to different playing conditions and afford them more experience to aid their career development.
Off-break bowler Piedt was not the only promising slow bowler from the Cape Town franchise that undertook the adventure and had teammate Siya Simetu as company, while four other young spinners from other unions also undertook the journey.
“It was something that really helped my game and will hopefully take it to the next level,” Piedt told supersport.com.
“I felt I learnt a lot, including a few more tricks the Indians use that will help me.
“How they approach cricket is completely different to us. We’re always tense and uptight. They’re just chilled out and that relaxation just helps so much more. I’m hoping to put those things to the test when my opportunities come along this season.”
Piedt is still a rookie in four-day cricket and continues to find his feet after playing just six games so far.
Two of those were in the 2010/11 season when he claimed a career-best seven for 92 on debut against the Nashua Titans as the Cobras clinched the title.
He played his other four games last season, but has battled to really stamp his authority, playing second fiddle most of the time to Proteas slow left-armer Robin Peterson.
“I didn’t play a lot last year because Robbie P was available for a lot of the time,” he said.
“I played four games and took eight wickets, so I didn’t go too well there, but obviously going forward now he’s going to be away a lot more.”
Peterson will miss the initial part of the season due to his selection in the Proteas team for the ICC World T20 starting next week.
He is also expected to be part of various Proteas squads over a busy spring and summer, which includes series against Australia, New Zealand and Pakistan.
In that time, Piedt is hoping to have done enough to hold his own in the Cobras side.
“I obviously hope to take my opportunity and make a name for myself in such a way that when he comes back, they’re going to have to play two spinners,” he added. “So I’ll be trying to make my mark on the team.
“After my debut performance, I haven’t really kicked on because of the lack of opportunities last season.
“I only had the Twenty20s where I played the whole competition because he wasn’t here. I did well there and I want to do the same here, make my mark in the four-day competition and try and be as successful as possible.”
