Proteas ready to unleash 'fit and excited' Nortje

THE Proteas took care of the serious part of the tour by clean sweeping India 2-0 in the Tests.

- ZAAHIER ADAMS

They then gave their hosts an almighty fright in the ODIs, chasing down a record score in the second match, before succumbing in the series decider a few days ago. But now they have to lift themselves again for five T20 matches, spread all across the country, as they begin their T20 World Cup preparation in earnest.

Back in the leadership saddle, captain Aiden Markram is therefore not entertaining any thoughts of his team suffering from home sickness just yet.

"So, the way the schedule goes nowadays, I guess you wrap up a series, you move on to the next one quite quickly," Markram said, ahead of the first T20I in Cuttack today.

"I mean we travelled (Sunday), got here (Monday) this evening by train and be as ready as we can be for (Tuesday). So, an exciting T20 series ahead.

"It's T20 cricket. It's an entertaining format and that's the brand and the way we want to play.

"We want guys to free themselves up, enjoy the game, let our best skills be on show.

"Hopefully, if we put a collective sort of effort together it looks like the result will hopefully be a good one."