Frank Klaasen hopes selectors understand Proteas' aggressive brand requires better backing

At the Oval in Kimberley

If the Proteas are going to drive home their renewed intention of batting aggressively under the guidance of new white-ball coach Rob Walter, team management and the selectors will need to play ball in terms of backing those batters.

Heinrich Klaasen, South Africa's hero with the willow in Wednesday night's defeat to England in the third ODI, issued this eyebrow-raising view because it's one of the reasons why the national team haven't batted consistently in the 50-over format over the past few years.

The Proteas' notable 2-1 series triumph over the World Cup champions featured some thrilling stroke-play by the whole batting order, with at least one different player taking it upon himself to make a substantial score.

Yet is it an encouraging trend that can continue?

"That's where it becomes tricky. Not everyone will be consistent all the time. That's why, when it's your day, you have to take the team over the line," said Klaasen, whose 80 off 62 deliveries thrillingly kept the Proteas in the picture on Wednesday night.

"That's also where players and coaches need to keep buying into the plan. Hopefully we'll get backed. If we want to keep playing in this manner, the consistency will be up and down. Some days it will look very bad and other days it will work out great.

"That's the big challenge for management and the selectors if they want us to play this way. 

"For the batters, it's just about believing and riding the wave when you're in-form. We're all natural stroke-makers, so it's not the brand of cricket that's the issue. It's about what's going on in the head. Will you be dropped? Will you keep you're position if you fail?"

That aforementioned uncertainty is what came close to extinguishing Klaasen's