The Proteas are taking collective responsibility for their lowest post-isolation Test score in the 278-run defeat to Sri Lanka in the first five-dayer in Galle over the weekend.
South Africa were bowled out for just 73 runs in their second innings as they struggled to cope with the Sri Lanka’s spin bowlers.
Heading into the first Test last week, coach Ottis Gibson said: “If you are going to scratch around [while batting] and get out, you might as well be positive and try and make some runs while you’re at the crease.
“That has always been my philosophy, and these conditions here don’t change my feeling on that.”
Gibson’s philosophy failed his team, but assistant coach Dale Benkenstein says they’re all to blame.
COMING HOME: SA's Tabraiz Shamsi. Photo: DERYCK FOSTER/BACKPAGEPIX
Benkenstein explains: “All the players take responsibility, as well as the coaches.
“I don’t think we are far off, in the little time that I have had with the national team, we have had some poor days because we are off.
“It is not a big gap, it may seem like it with the result, but if we put all the things right, we will be on the money in Colombo.
“We have two more days in Colombo to prepare for the next Test, it is not the end of the world.”
The second and final Test against Sri Lanka starts in Colombo on Friday.