Rob Walter: When the times comes, Proteas will step up

South Africa slumped to yet another series defeat – this time suffering a 3-0 white-wash in the One Day Internationals on home soil against Pakistan, following a 36-run defeat in the Pink Day at DP World Wanderers last night.

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While many may feel hopeless as the team next assembles for the ICC Champions Trophy in February next year, Walter has every bit of confidence the players will step up when it truly matters – that being in the running for the all-illusive major silverware.

''I think the players are certainly always proud to play for their country, and obviously trying to put their best foot forward. When you come to world events, most of the time either than injury you will get your best squad to compete. 

But I think I am naturally optimistic, and history says that when the time comes our players will show up, I back that, I trust them fully. In between now and then, we just need to have real conversations about what we could have done better. 

Firstly we will focus on these test matches and also be involved in the SA20 which is a different format, but I am optimistic that when time comes we will pull together,'' said Walter.

Since his appointment in February 2023, this was the Proteas first white-wash series defeat under Walter, who insists there's not much to read into that as he reflected on the three ODIs.

''To be honest the white-wash is less of a concern than delving into the actual performance of the team. The disappointing part is making the errors especially with the bat. If you look at all the games we were behind in terms of wickets, if we had one of the batters score a 100 we would be talking something different. So we need to lament on these littles things we haven't done well. But there are actually things we did well, where we stood up and excelled, obviously Heinrich Klaasen stands out and we have guys with good debuts, but essentially we look to do better than that,'' added Walter.

While several first-choice bowlers have been sidelined through various injuries throughout the Summer, the ex-Titans mentor admitted the batting unit’s failure to convert their strokeplay into substantial contributions is something to recti

''The conversations have been fairly consistent, like as a batting unit we spoke about someone taking in and getting a big 100, we spoke about everything you can think of. To be fair we just haven't been able to convert anything into substantial knocks or partnerships in this series.

It is unlike we are not aware, I mean the game has turned around very quickly, but some of it because of our batting error, another is down to bowling quality. At the end of the day how do you assess that, but I know the players want to be better and I hope that can be sooner than later,'' he expressed.

With the team now dispersing until just before the ICC Champions Trophy scheduled for February and March 2025, Walter is not overly concerned by the lack of international preparations before then.