ICC T20 WORLD CUP 2021

October 18, 2021

Craig Williams

Sheikh Zayed Stadium

Namibia

Post Match Media Conference

Q. How do you handle the Sri Lankan goalie attack, having facing the fast bowlers around 120Ks, 130Ks. Today you all had to face a couple of bowlers who are bowling high 140s. How did you all manage that challenge?

CRAIG WILLIAMS: I think for us, it's quite disappointing, to be honest. We have trained for the last years. We knew what was coming. Just think on the night our execution was poor. Obviously under the lights, it adds another factor.

The Sri Lankan bowling attack is obviously well-oiled. Our batters, for some time the guys didn't give us much to hit. They bowled their bounces. I think they got the right height on their bounces, which is they executed extremely well.

So I think we have fast paced. Played in and out of South Africa. We had a few South African tours come to us. It's disappointing because we can handle it. I think our execution let us down tonight.

Q. From here on, where do you all see Nambia going forward in this tournament? There's two more games coming up, Ireland, Netherlands. What kind of challenge will they pose?

CRAIG WILLIAMS: We still have high spirits. We walked off the field with smiles on our faces. We knew Sri Lanka would be tough.

We have to put this behind us as quick as possible. We don't necessarily have to go back to the drawing board. We have a very good game plan. We back ourselves in strike rotation and play spin well, which we just didn't execute tonight. The spirit in the camp is extremely high. We back ourselves obviously against Ireland, we back ourselves against Ireland, and let's see where those games take us.

Q. After obviously the batting performance, you guys came out firing at the start of Sri Lankan innings. What was said in between, in the interval to really get you guys refocused and back on the ball once you had the ball in your hand?

CRAIG WILLIAMS: Are you talking about our bowling, I didn't get the beginning of the question.

Q. Exactly that. What was said in the interval to really get you fired and refocused after the disappointment of the bat?

CRAIG WILLIAMS: Look, it's a low score. And all you can do is try to stick to the basics and stick to your guns. We spoke a lot about hitting our lengths. The pitch was staying in low. Not leaving the wickets. So I think again poor execution. Overpitched too much. And we allowed the Sri Lankans to hit us on the ground.

When you've got a score like that on the board, can't blame the bowlers. It's going to be a tough battle for them the whole time. Batting unit needs to pull up their socks and get something better on the board for our bowlers to be able to defend.

Q. Does that spell, especially those early wickets you took, made a real fist of it with the sport, is that something real positive to take into your next game?

CRAIG WILLIAMS: Definitely, look, on these wickets, I think as a batsman, you never really -- the wickets do tend to keep lower as the game goes on. So you always stand a chance. The big goal for us is to try and minimise the partnerships that the other batting team make.

If you can get new batters to the crease the whole time, I think that gives you a good chance. So, look, we're extremely positive moving forward for the remainder of the tournament. We knew Sri Lanka would be the toughest rivals, and they definitely didn't let the public down. They came out firing. We knew they would do that. The remaining games of the tournament, we have a good wake-up call and we'll be nice and positive for the next two.

Q. This kind of a wicket, what should be the approach? Because you both strayed a bit. What is the way forward?

CRAIG WILLIAMS: So from a batting perspective, your strike rotation has got to be on par. I think Sri Lankans did really well. When it was a good bowl, they played soft hands and they got a strike and they kept rotating.

When wickets are like this, a bit lower, bit slower, you've got to keep rotating. And you've got to be able to spin well. Which was disappointing for us because we sweep really well. We lost three wickets tonight with the sweep. With poor technique, just not low enough hands, poor position. So that's something that from a batting side of thing it will be disappointing.

We're used to playing on these types of wickets back home. Our wickets turn there a bit low, slow. But I think the big thing for our batting unit is just build partnerships. Strike rotation. And obviously when that bad bowl comes, there weren't many tonight, but when the bad bowl comes, put it away be ruthless.