Cricket: South Africans ready for (NZ) verbals off - and on field

Johan Botha. Photo / Getty Images

South Africa are expecting more sledging from New Zealand players in the coming weeks, and aren't surprised by abuse from beyond the boundary, says senior player Johan Botha.

At the opening T20 international in Wellington on Friday night, and to a lesser extent in Hamilton on Sunday night, South African players copped flak from sections of the crowd.

The Afrikaans-language newspaper Rapport claims several players had told the newspaper of being "unceasingly cursed and insulted" while fielding on the boundary in Wellington as New Zealand went on to a six-wicket win.

However, offspinner Botha, 29, and a former captain of both the T20 and ODI national teams, played down the reports. Crowd abuse was nothing new, he said, and he was relaxed about the on-field sparring.

"It's going to happen and you've just got to deal with it. It's pretty much the same all over the world."

Botha said to his knowledge none of the boundary riders had complained at the crowd's reaction to them.

"You can't let it affect you. You've got to focus on the game, as Gary [coach Gary Kirsten] said, just get on with it."

Botha said the Proteas were not concerned about the level of advice directed at their players on the field in the first two T20 internationals. They had expected it and were ready for it.

Rapport claimed one player told the paper "the New Zealanders have made it clear that this will not be an easy trip because they will not hold back on their sledging".

Fast-medium bowler Tim Southee appeared the chief protagonist, offering several pieces of wisdom to South Africa's century-maker Richard Levi in Hamilton on Sunday night.

To be fair, no one expects the South Africans to spend the tour with their lips sealed either.

Botha said the South Africans had been ready for that approach from the New Zealanders.

"We expect more of the same in the next few games," he said. "We expect them to come hard and really be in our face. That's fair if enough if they feel that's the way to do it.

"But I thought Richie [Levi] settled all that down. He quietened a few guys down last night by smashing them all over."

Whatever your view of it, there really are times it's better to keep one's own counsel, such as Sunday night and the Seddon Slaughter.

Levi would have been fully entitled to respond with a broad grin and, in time-honoured fashion, suggest Southee inspect the scoreboard.

Southee's figures were an unflattering none for 40 off four overs; none of his teammates fared much better as Levi completed the world's fastest T20 hundred - 45 balls - and with more sixes, 13, than any other player has hit in a T20 innings.

There was no doubt who the last laugh belonged to.

However Botha had a measure of sympathy for the New Zealand bowlers.

"It was one of those nights where a player can do those things. We've seen it with [West Indian] Chris Gayle and Brendon McCullum, one of those nights you can't stop a guy."