Faced with a do-or-die situation after the heartbreaking one-run loss in Jaipur, South Africa coach Corrie van Zyl today hinted that the visitors may make some changes in their side for the second one-dayer against India in Gwalior on Wednesday.
Asked if Test series' batting star Hashim Amla could find a place in the XI, van Zyl said the rotation of players would continue as the Proteas have one eye on the 2011 World Cup in the sub-continent.
"Each of the 16 players in the squad is capable. Winning or losing, we will try to get the best combination. Quicker we get the combination the better. Rotation will go much longer than this tour," van Zyl said.
"This is the place where the World Cup is going to happen. We want to see how other players perform in these conditions. Rotation will be a policy on this tour. We are planning for World Cup," he said at the pre-match press conference ahead of the team practice.
The Proteas coach also backed fast bowler Dale Steyn, who appears to have lost his sting after the first Test.
"He bowled superbly and he is not the only bowler. He and others did extremely well in the first Test. If you think (taking) wickets is a measure to (judge) performance, he has done a lot more than just that," he said.
However, van Zyl did not hide his disappointment over the flop show of youngsters like JP Duminy and AB de Villiers.
"It's not only me but they will also be disappointed. But that's cricket. My role is to get them back to previous form. They are working hard and quality players," he said.
Van Zyl also called on his players to put up a better batting and bowling performance.
"Our fielding was exceptional but we did not do the basics right in the bowling and batting departments. And that's why we are on the wrong end of the result. We are 0-1 down and we want to make those things right," van Zyl said.
Asked if the momentum was the hosts, van Zyl said, "I don't think so. Momentum is only at that stage. We will have to do the right things and get the momentum. It's back to square one."
On being asked if the Proteas have any specific plan to tackle the explosive Virender Sehwag since the venue for the match - Captain Roop Singh Stadium - has short boundaries, the coach said the only way to restrict Sehwag is to bowl in the right areas.
"It's same plan whether it is a bigger crowd or a smaller one. We just wanna go and bowl at the right areas. And Sehwag is not the only batsman. There are others as well," he said.
Asked if the South Africans planned to play a specialist batsman in the match, van Zyl said, "It's a question of six places in the squad. If they can do something with the ball and or if the bowlers could do something with the bat, it will make the team stronger."
Van Zyl said he expected his batsmen to do better against spinners.
"The teams that have been coming here and tackling spin have always been a challenge, it's nothing new. But this is an area we need to improve. Something we have to address," he conceded.
On stand-in captain Jacques Kallis' leadership qualities, van Zyl said, "I would like to see Jacques Kallis in that position in future also."
