Exclusive: No Room for Weakness – Alviro Petersen Urges Proteas to Strike on Day Three

Former Proteas Test opener, Alviro Petersen, wants South Africa to attack Australia mentally by setting attacking fields. The former opener told SportsBoom.co.za that the players need to seize the moment to become South Africa's first team to win a world title.

The Mental Games

South Africa needs two more wickets to bat for the second time in the ongoing World Test Championship final at Lord's and are already looking at chasing a 200-run target to win the match.

Given that they are playing against Australia, Petersen reckons that they need to set attacking fields on Day three, even though it is risky, as the Australian tail-end batters could extend the lead even further.

However, Petersen believes that setting attacking fields will show Australia that they back themselves to chase whatever total they put on the board.

"Firstly, with South Africa having to get two wickets, normally what a lot of captains would do is they'll have fielders on the boundary to stop the boundaries and that sort of stuff. But they would still have catches in place, which is the right thing. But in this game, and when you play against Australia, it's not about doing the right thing, it's about the mind and how mentally they can break you down," Petersen told SportsBoom.co.za in an exclusive interview.  

"When you play against Australia, sometimes you have to fight fire with fire and the ideal thing to do is to pretend to go out there tomorrow, have an attacking field, even if it's only for a couple of overs because you send a message that says: listen, we're not scared of you getting boundaries. We want you out."

"Whereas if you put a couple of guys on the boundary and that sort of thing, Australia will sense that weakness and they will thrive on that weakness. So, South Africa needs to fight fire with fire, that's the first thing." Petersen added.

Staying in the bubble

South Africa was bowled out for 138 runs in the first innings, meaning that the lead that Australia have post Day Two, a lead of 218 runs, is already larger than South Africa's first innings total.

With the Aussies capable of adding more runs on Day Three, it could play in the minds of this young Proteas batting unit that the score is a bit too far to chase.

Petersen advised that the side should spiral down that route and instead stay in the bubble and seize the moment that is in front of them.

"Australia get another 50 runs with the last two wickets, and I think that's what they will target, to try and get 50 runs, try and frustrate South Africa," Petersen told SportsBoom.co.za in an exclusive interview.

"If they get a lead of 250 plus, Australia will feel like they're in the game. From a batting point of view, South Africa will be on the back foot, and we all know what they're thinking, they're thinking another final, what's going to happen. They're already thinking so far ahead."

"For them, it's important to stay in the moment. You almost have to stay in a bubble and say, 'guys, it's about the 11 of us and our squad, that's what it's about.' Then you seize the moment."

"This is the moment where we can actually win this World Test Championship final, having been the underdogs. All we need to do is get two partnerships, decent partnerships."

"One guy needs to get a big 50, and when I say a big 50, I'm talking 80 or so. And that's it.  That should be the mindset. If it's a mindset of, oh, these Australians, they don't give us anything, and you start doubting yourself, Australia pick up on those things."

Australia will resume Day Three at Lord's on 144/8 with a 218-run lead.