00:00 Ryan, what does it mean for, not about the associate movement, but for the Netherlands
00:08 cricket community to have a go at the Champions Trophy?
00:14 What does it mean?
00:16 I think if you look at it, when we started the tournament, the Champions Trophy wasn't
00:20 even an option.
00:22 I think the team has grown immensely over the last two years, and coming into the environment,
00:29 you almost feel like every game means a lot, irrespective of whether it's playing for the
00:34 Champions Trophy or playing for getting into a semi-final.
00:39 So I think every game is going to be important to us, no more important than the one coming
00:45 up against England.
00:48 I think going forward, the processes that have been put in place in this tournament
00:54 with our group of players and our coaches has been absolutely phenomenal.
00:59 Yes, please.
01:00 That particular win you had in this tournament, afterwards, what has been the team's progress?
01:08 How would you describe the other matches?
01:12 I think the important thing for us is to build good habits.
01:18 Playing the top nations in the world is an incredible opportunity and a real privilege
01:24 for our group.
01:26 And so every opportunity we get is one that we prepare immensely for.
01:33 Every game that we've taken on, whether we win or we lose, we follow the same process.
01:38 Our reflections are the same, our debriefs are the same, and that consistency is something
01:42 that we really strive for.
01:44 It's one of our value systems.
01:45 So it's important for us that, win or lose, we follow the same process, and that's been
01:50 the same throughout this tournament.
01:53 Yes, please.
01:54 Hi.
01:55 You can now even think of beating England tomorrow.
02:01 Did you come with the same belief when you came to India to participate in the World
02:05 Cup, or did it grow gradually?
02:08 No, I think we've had the belief all along.
02:13 The belief not just for the England game, I think at the start of the tournament, I
02:18 know Ryan Cook, our head coach, has mentioned the four from eight and the ambition of getting
02:24 into a semi-final.
02:25 But I think ultimately we're here to compete, and we've prepared in that manner.
02:33 As I said, building really good habits, trying to make sure that we're consistent throughout
02:37 in what we do in all our preparations, irrespective of who we play.
02:40 So I think our goal of making sure that we take each game exactly the same is continuing
02:49 throughout.
02:50 Yes, please.
02:51 Oh, the lady first.
02:53 Always ladies first.
02:54 Thank you.
02:55 Do you think England is probably at their worst vulnerability right now with all those
03:02 losses?
03:04 England are world champions.
03:07 So I think they would do what's necessary.
03:12 They've prepared just as much.
03:13 And in South Africa, where I'm from, there's a famous saying of never underestimate a wounded
03:20 buffalo.
03:21 So I think we sit in a position where England's one of the best teams in the world, and irrespective
03:26 of how they're playing, they can produce incredible performances at any moment.
03:30 So that's what we're preparing for, the best England possible.
03:36 Thank you.
03:40 You talked about preparation and everything.
03:43 Can you talk a little bit more about how you prepared for the conditions in India for the
03:47 players who come from a totally different weather and climate?
03:53 We were fortunate enough to spend two weeks in Bangalore before the World Cup began, which
04:01 allowed a lot of our players to get used to the heat, the humidity, the conditions, the
04:06 different pitch conditions.
04:07 We played against a really strong Connecticut team as well, which was a great opportunity
04:12 for us.
04:14 So I think throughout our preparation, whether it was the stuff behind the scenes or whether
04:21 it was the physical work, every player put in the work to make sure that they gave themselves
04:25 the best opportunity to succeed.
04:27 So that two-week preparation beforehand was really valuable.
04:31 And then the warm-up games really give you a good indication of how you can acclimatise
04:36 and how you can get up to scratch with where you need to be.
04:39 And I think those were really valuable for us as well, even though it did rain quite
04:42 a lot in Trivandrum.
04:45 Any more?
04:46 Yes, sir.
04:47 Hi, Ryan.
04:48 You said that England are obviously the defending champions, but is it the best time to beat
04:54 England?
04:57 Not necessarily.
04:59 I would say that England are preparing as they know how.
05:06 As I said, they're world champions for a reason.
05:07 This is the same group that won the World Cup not so long ago.
05:14 So I think for us, is there ever a good opportunity to win against the best nations in the world?
05:21 I think we're preparing for the best teams in the world, no differently.
05:26 And our mindset is that as long as we are consistent in what we're preparing, it'll
05:30 give us the best opportunity to compete.
05:38 Any fitness and availability concerns?
05:41 No.
05:43 Everyone's fighting fit.
05:46 Can you give your assessment about the conditions here today in this stadium for tomorrow's
05:50 match?
05:51 I lived in Pune for two years.
05:55 So I spent quite a bit of time at the stadium.
06:02 It's nice to be back and see the stadium.
06:04 It's been slightly renovated since I was last here.
06:07 But look, Pune has always been a good wicket.
06:11 We've seen South Africa score 350 in this tournament already.
06:14 We've seen Afghanistan chasing 240 here.
06:17 So I think with boundary dimensions fairly similar all the way around, a fast outfield,
06:25 if you bowl well here, you have opportunities.
06:27 If you bat really well, you can put teams under pressure.
06:29 So I think from our point of view, it's just about making sure we put together a really
06:33 solid performance with the ball and/or with the bat, and just try and set the game up
06:38 in that way.
06:39 You mentioned that you have been here two years.
06:41 Can you tell us a little bit more when was that two years and for what purpose?
06:47 In 2018 and '19, I ran Gary Kirsten's Cricket Academy.
06:53 And part of that was launching an academy here in Pune.
06:55 So that was my priority at the time, but just before COVID.
06:59 And then COVID hit, so I went back to South Africa.
07:02 Ryan, if I am allowed to put you in a spot, you seem to be very happy playing against
07:09 higher ranked teams.
07:12 So is it the motto that participation is more important than winning?
07:19 Do you ever play a sport to lose?
07:21 No, but you seem to be very satisfied and content playing in the World Cup.
07:28 I think our motivation is to make sure that us as a team are always improving and getting
07:34 better.
07:35 We came into this tournament with a goal, maybe falling slightly short of that goal
07:40 of reaching the semifinals, but it doesn't mean that we prepare any differently.
07:45 And I think for us as a group, every game is important to us to play to win.
07:51 I don't think we ever rock up thinking that we like to compete against the best teams
07:57 in the world.
07:58 We're here to win and we're here to try and make sure that we can prepare as consistently
08:03 as possible.
08:04 Thank you.
08:05 Yes, sir.
08:06 This is not about the World Cup.
08:09 Can I ask beyond the World Cup?
08:11 You can ask everything.
08:14 For some teams like the Netherlands and Ireland, how much have the teams benefited from South
08:20 Africa players going there?
08:22 Can you talk about being a South African, the other side of the story as well?
08:31 If you look at sports around the world, I think the magnitude of cricket, if I can speak
08:39 on the cricket side of things, is huge.
08:42 England's got a lot of South Africans.
08:44 England's got, you know, they've got their version of expat players, if you want to call
08:50 it that.
08:51 So I think the key element here is that everyone has an opportunity to compete at the highest
08:59 level of the game.
09:00 If I look at teams like, so certainly in South Africa, rugby teams, a lot of South Africans
09:07 play rugby in the UK and are playing for different nations.
09:10 So I think with the global nature of the sport, the value that players can bring to other
09:17 nations through whichever way they can qualify, I think it only makes the sport stronger.
09:24 And the South African side of the story?
09:28 What would you like to know?
09:29 Has it harmed South Africa's chances in any way?
09:35 Not at all.
09:36 Have you seen how well South Africa are playing this tournament?
09:38 No, I think in general South Africa produces incredible sports people, but I don't think
09:45 it necessarily harms South Africa in any way.
09:47 I think the players go for various reasons to other countries, not necessarily just to
09:54 play sport.
09:55 They'll go for business purposes as well, but I think the reality is that good players
10:01 everywhere around the world.
10:04 Anybody else?
10:06 Thank you very much.
10:07 I'm sure every day he's going to explain to me how dangerous a wounded buffalo is, because
10:11 we don't have them in Holland.
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