Nandre Burger's successful return lifts Joburg Super Kings despite Newlands defeat

Joburg Super Kings may have suffered their first defeat of the competition, but bowling coach Eric Simons believes there is plenty positives to take from the reversal to MI Cape Town at Newlands. 

Most notably, Simons was excited that left-arm fast bowler Nandre Burger came through unscathed upon his return to competitive action. 

Burger suffered a hamstring injury in the second ODI in Raipur that curtailed his participation on the Proteas’ tour to India last month, which forced him to miss the opening stages of the Betway SA20.

The 30-year-old completed his full quota of three overs at Newlands and finished with excellent figures of 2/23.

“Fantastic (to have him back),” Simons said. “Obviously anybody who comes back from a long-term injury is someone of his quality. Gives you balance to your attack and you saw the value that he adds to any line-up.

“He seemed a little tentative at the start. First ball I thought he was a bit tentative and then he got into his rhythm and bowled very well. I think also tactically he was good.

“It's not just the delivery of pace or line or whatever. But tactically the nuances of what he did was really good. He's that extra dimension that we need and it's good to have him back.”

Simons was also not too perturbed with Richard Gleeson’s off-colour performance at Newlands, especially with the English seamer still leading the wicket-takers list with 9 scalps for JSK. 

“When you've got to be that precise with the delivery and the ball's now a little bit slippery and the footing's a bit slippery and sometimes it just doesn't work. Tonight it didn't,” he said.

“The Super Over and the over before that in that game we won was outstanding and sometimes it just doesn't work. So I don't think it's too much to be overthinking about. We'll look at perhaps changing tactics.

“He came around the wicket, changed the angle, that seemed to work. So maybe that becomes an option. He goes to a little quicker when he feels that the yorker's not working.

“So having different options is always important for any bowler but we talk a lot about the angles and the angle around the wicket is an important one and it works at the right time.”

Simons also believes JSK are still on track to secure a playoff spot with a string of home fixtures loading.

“We were a bit unlucky but it's just one of those things. It's a lot to do with confidence. These tournaments are tough,” he said.

“Six teams and four qualifiers, you need momentum. Some have come into these tournaments and battled up front and then got the momentum at the right time. So we're very aware of the fact that we've had a good start but the real business end is to come.

“There's a change of personnel but that's not necessarily the case. It's just that you find somebody firing at the right time. Combinations work.”