Dolphins coach Grant Morgan, never shy of looking beyond the game he works in for inspiration, said the pressure of leading the Momentum One-Day Cup was nothing, compared to what is going on around the world today.
“We have tsunamis on our beachfront, we have people defending their lives in Syria, so it is a pleasure to be playing with the pressure of leading the table,” the effusive Morgan explained, ahead of his side’s trip to Potchefstroom.
There, in the north-west of the country, they will meet the Lions on Wednesday, and they are determined to get what they couldn’t on Friday – after Mother Nature intervened.
“I thought we handled the challenges that came our way really well, and we showed again that we could play really good cricket, even if it was for 36 overs,” Morgan lamented.
His side, with a terrific platform from from the top-order, looked on their way to an almighty total, but persistent rain was the winner on Friday night.
At the normally run-friendly Senwes Park in Potch, Morgan expects nothing out of the ordinary.
“We all know what to expect from Potch. It is usually a high-scoring venue, and one where it is difficult to defend,” he warned.
Unless something drastic confronts them, Morgan is confident that the squad he has at his disposal is ready to meet whatever the Lions chuck at them.
“If something hits us in the face when we get there, we will react to it. We have the ability to adjust to different conditions,” he said cheerfully of the options at his disposal.
Suddenly, national players like Andile Phehlukwayo and Imran Tahir are back to supplement a side in good nick and equally good humour. There is an air of expectancy, and a hearty dose of good cheer in the Dolphins’ sheds.
It is a world away from the problems he had in the T20 Challenge earlier in the season, where even scratching together a playing XI was a minor miracle.
“In the T20, we were really short of staff. We had so many injuries, and guys forgetting their ID, so they had to drive instead of flying with us…”
It was, in every sense of the word, a bit of a mess, but time heals everything – and everyone.
“Now, everyone fit and raring to go. We had 15-16 guys in the changeroom the other day, and they all want to play!”
Morgan added that there is a huge emphasis on fielding these days, and his side had an extra long session on Monday, determined to get the extra inches they need to stay ahead of the competition.
“We had a really good practice, with great focus. We also had a great fielding session. I think that we have caught well in the competition, but our ground fielding has let us down,” Morgan chided.
“We have worked more on that aspect, and I think we will be rewarded for it at some stage,” he added.
The Dolphins, who lead the table, know that a good week – they host the Titans on Sunday – will guarantee a playoff spot, and even a home final, if results go their way. It is a considerable carrot that is dangling in front of them, and the tenacious Morgan is desperate to end off a challenging season on a high. In a world with infinitely bigger problems, the challenge in front of the Dolphins looks a lot more manageable.
And, what’s more, their destiny is completely in their own hands.
Dolphins squad:
Rabian Engelbrecht, Sarel Erwee, Rob Frylinck, Sibonelo Makhanya, Senuran Muthusamy, Kyle Nipper, Andile Phehlukwayo, Calvin Savage, Mthokozisi Shezi, Prenelan Subrayen, Imran Tahir, Vaughn van Jaarsveld, Morné van Wyk, Khaya Zondo (c)