The South African cricket team witnessed a huge defeat of 278 runs in the series opener of the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka in the Emerald Isles. After the loss, there were some questions raised that if Faf du Plessis’ team is capable enough to stand a chance in the spinning conditions, but, the batting coach Dale Benkenstein has defended his team as he expressed that it was a one-off and a change in mindset will do the job in the upcoming match.

Talking to the reporters, Dale said, “I would say 90 percent is about being tough mentally, being used to the ball spinning past the bat. We were weak on that side when you have had a lot of Test cricket you are ready for the pressures and we were a bit low on that. Technically you have to have faced a spinning ball, there are few things technically that you have to adjust to.”

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He further added, “I don’t think we are far off, in the little time that I have had with the national team, we have had some poor days because we are off. It is not a big gap, it may seem like it with the result, but if we put all the things right we will be on the money in Colombo.”

The Proteas have quality players in their batting line-up like Faf du Plessis, Hashim Am, a and Temba Bavuma — all proven performers against spinners and Benkenstein reckons the team can turn it around in Colombo.

Praising the ability of his batsmen, Benkenstein said, “These players have practiced very hard. I don’t believe practices are going to make a huge amount of difference. Mentally there are a few things we have to put right, we have to remind ourselves that we are back in Test match mode, it is tough. We have two more days in Colombo to prepare for the next Test, it is not the end of the world.”