Fleming calls on JSK youngsters to show 'flair' and 'no fear' in push for SA20 playoff spot

Joburg Super Kings coach Stephen Fleming admits they may have to go off brand in their bid to secure a Betway SA20 playoff spot after losing captain Faf du Plessis to injury. 

The Super Kings have traditionally relied on their experienced players, notably Du Plessis, but Fleming feels now may be the time to entrust the youngsters to lead the way. 

There certainly has been some promise shown with the likes of Matthew de Villiers and Dian Forrester shining with the bat, and the New Zealander hopes they can now seize the day in these pressure cooker moments. 

“We lost our captain in the last game. So, we had to make some pretty big adjustments and introduce players to the squad. We've really concentrated on that,” Fleming said after the 61-run defeat to Sunrisers Eastern Cape at St George’s Park.

“That can be a little bit unsettling. So really just trying to get back into some sort of rhythm. 

“But I will be encouraging the young players to express themselves. That little bit of youthful exuberance. You don't want to suppress them. You want them to actually grab the opportunity. And we've seen some good performances from our young players.

“And if they can use that flair and ability and that no-fear attitude they've got, sometimes that can be a better catalyst in relying on the older players who are a bit more steady and a bit more sure.”

The Super Kings currently occupy the last playoff spot in fourth place with 17 points - three ahead of Durban’s Super Giants - and Fleming remains confident his team will reach the knockout stages. 

However, the former Black Caps wants his team to improve their overall gameplay and not just squeeze through and then fall short as they have in the three previous seasons. 

“We've just got to make sure that we find some form and some confidence, even if we have to bluff it. But T20 is so fickle. You can't even use the word momentum in T20,” he said.

“We can come out and play an absolutely perfect game the next game. And we're talking in a much different language. So we're really positive within the camp, but it has been a little bit unsettling.

“So, we go back to Johannesburg now, which in terms of home ground advantage, we've got to make the most of.

“But against a side that's in form in Pretoria. So this is a very close competition. We started off well, but we've just sort of dipped off.

“So we've got to find something from within to get back in the contest. It's not about just scraping into the semi-finals. It's about creating some rhythms and getting a bit of confidence back.”

JSK have two matches remaining, starting with the derby against Pretoria Capitals at the Wanderers on Saturday, before travelling back down to the Western Cape to face Paarl Royals at Boland Park on Monday.