India vs South Africa
India VS South Africa Test Series
Preview:
A self-assured South Africa will go up against a born again Indian side as the first test starts at the Chepauk stadium in Chennai. India are very excited after their brilliant show in Australia. After a very eventful and exhilarating test series, the Indians emerged victorious in the farewell edition of the annual tri series.
South Africa has been almost perfect in the past few months. They won both tests in Pakistan compellingly and also the one day series, before wiping out New Zealand and West Indies on home soil. They returned to the sub continent again to whip the miserable Bangladeshis in their own country and replaced Australia from the top of the ODI rankings. They are only two points behind India on the test rankings, with the second place up for the taking.
South Africa's upsurge to the tour has been blemished by a selection controversy once again. This time mixed race bowler, Charl Langeveldt chose to opt out of the tour after he was chosen in stead of Andre Nel to meet the quota of six colored players.
It will be fascinating to see if South Africa is able to repeat their test feats without Andre Nel, who has been very important in their largely one-dimensional attack. He will be replaced by fast bowler Monde Zondeki. "It is nice to be rewarded for all the hard work I have put in this season," said Zondeki in a statement issued by Cricket South Africa. "I wasn't expecting it quite yet, but I will grab every opportunity that I get."
South Africa's pace ace Dale Steyn is extremely excited in anticipation of a battle with India's batsmen in the test series. "I am looking forward to playing against India, especially after their successful tour of Australia. It will be interesting going to India," Steyn said to AFP. "It is going to be tough bowling to any of the batsmen, particularly under conditions that they are used to. They have plenty of depth. The key will be to work on their weaknesses and take it from there." Steyn would also employ his slower ball to take apart the powerful Indian batting line-up. "My slower ball really took off when we went to Sri Lanka a couple of seasons ago. Polly(Shaun Pollock) told me that it was a vital weapon to have in my arsenal, particularly in sub-continent conditions.”
India also will not have their main fast bowlers. India's latest pace sensation Ishant Sharma suffered toe and finger injuries after a long and difficult tour of Australia and was left out from the 14-man squad after failing a fitness test. If fit, he would be considered for the remaining part of the series. Zaheer Khan, who had treatment for his ankle injury is not playing in the series as well. "I feel I am not yet ready for international cricket," the left-arm seamer said.
Smith said his team was in no doubt of toppling the Indians at home. "India are a formidable side at home but we have the team to succeed in their conditions. We have two good spinners in left-armers Paul Harris and Robin Peterson and a battery of young fast bowlers who are capable of dismissing India twice in a game. "We also have good batters in the top six positions. I am confident that they are capable of fulfilling the task," he said. He also said "It is going to be a big challenge, I know India have come back after a great tour of Australia."
Coach Mickey Arthur rubbished suggestions South Africa would be ill-prepared for the first test after cancelling a scheduled warmup game against India A. "There've been a lot of noises about not playing a warm-up match, but we've been in the subcontinent a huge amount lately and the guys are so sound in terms of the different techniques required," he said.
"Coming home has allowed the team to be refreshed and re-energised and we thought it was the best way to refocus on getting back into the swing of things. We know it will be hard work, but it's a mental shift more than anything else. "Warmup games tend to be good for the first day and a half, and then the intensity wanes. We believe we can replicate a warmup game quite easily with some intensive centre practices."
South Africa will have two of their compatriots planning their defeat. Former opening batsman Gary Kirsten will start his two year spell as India's coach against the Proteas. India's support staff also has another South African, Paddy Upton, who worked as physical trainer and mental conditioning expert with the South African team till 1998 before being coaxed by Kirsten to join him in India.
South Africa has played 7 tests in India before, with both teams winning three each. The last two tests at Chennai were washed out due to rain and with thunderstorms forecast for the length of this test match as well, one can only hope that a full game is played.
Teams:
India (From): Anil Kumble(c), Wasim Jaffer, Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Saurav Ganguly, VVS Laxman, Yuvraj Singh, Mahendra Singh Dhoni(w), Irfan Pathan, S Sreesanth, Rudra Pratap Singh, Piyush Chawla, Harbhajan Singh
South Africa (From): Graeme Smith(c), Neil McKenzie, Hashim Amla, Jacques Kallis, AB de Villiers, Ashwell Prince, Jean-Paul Duminy, Mark Boucher(w), Paul Harris, Dale Steyn, Makhaya Ntini, Monde Zondeki, Morne Morkel, Robin Peterson
Preview:
A self-assured South Africa will go up against a born again Indian side as the first test starts at the Chepauk stadium in Chennai. India are very excited after their brilliant show in Australia. After a very eventful and exhilarating test series, the Indians emerged victorious in the farewell edition of the annual tri series.
South Africa has been almost perfect in the past few months. They won both tests in Pakistan compellingly and also the one day series, before wiping out New Zealand and West Indies on home soil. They returned to the sub continent again to whip the miserable Bangladeshis in their own country and replaced Australia from the top of the ODI rankings. They are only two points behind India on the test rankings, with the second place up for the taking.
South Africa's upsurge to the tour has been blemished by a selection controversy once again. This time mixed race bowler, Charl Langeveldt chose to opt out of the tour after he was chosen in stead of Andre Nel to meet the quota of six colored players.
It will be fascinating to see if South Africa is able to repeat their test feats without Andre Nel, who has been very important in their largely one-dimensional attack. He will be replaced by fast bowler Monde Zondeki. "It is nice to be rewarded for all the hard work I have put in this season," said Zondeki in a statement issued by Cricket South Africa. "I wasn't expecting it quite yet, but I will grab every opportunity that I get."
South Africa's pace ace Dale Steyn is extremely excited in anticipation of a battle with India's batsmen in the test series. "I am looking forward to playing against India, especially after their successful tour of Australia. It will be interesting going to India," Steyn said to AFP. "It is going to be tough bowling to any of the batsmen, particularly under conditions that they are used to. They have plenty of depth. The key will be to work on their weaknesses and take it from there." Steyn would also employ his slower ball to take apart the powerful Indian batting line-up. "My slower ball really took off when we went to Sri Lanka a couple of seasons ago. Polly(Shaun Pollock) told me that it was a vital weapon to have in my arsenal, particularly in sub-continent conditions.”
India also will not have their main fast bowlers. India's latest pace sensation Ishant Sharma suffered toe and finger injuries after a long and difficult tour of Australia and was left out from the 14-man squad after failing a fitness test. If fit, he would be considered for the remaining part of the series. Zaheer Khan, who had treatment for his ankle injury is not playing in the series as well. "I feel I am not yet ready for international cricket," the left-arm seamer said.
Smith said his team was in no doubt of toppling the Indians at home. "India are a formidable side at home but we have the team to succeed in their conditions. We have two good spinners in left-armers Paul Harris and Robin Peterson and a battery of young fast bowlers who are capable of dismissing India twice in a game. "We also have good batters in the top six positions. I am confident that they are capable of fulfilling the task," he said. He also said "It is going to be a big challenge, I know India have come back after a great tour of Australia."
Coach Mickey Arthur rubbished suggestions South Africa would be ill-prepared for the first test after cancelling a scheduled warmup game against India A. "There've been a lot of noises about not playing a warm-up match, but we've been in the subcontinent a huge amount lately and the guys are so sound in terms of the different techniques required," he said.
"Coming home has allowed the team to be refreshed and re-energised and we thought it was the best way to refocus on getting back into the swing of things. We know it will be hard work, but it's a mental shift more than anything else. "Warmup games tend to be good for the first day and a half, and then the intensity wanes. We believe we can replicate a warmup game quite easily with some intensive centre practices."
South Africa will have two of their compatriots planning their defeat. Former opening batsman Gary Kirsten will start his two year spell as India's coach against the Proteas. India's support staff also has another South African, Paddy Upton, who worked as physical trainer and mental conditioning expert with the South African team till 1998 before being coaxed by Kirsten to join him in India.
South Africa has played 7 tests in India before, with both teams winning three each. The last two tests at Chennai were washed out due to rain and with thunderstorms forecast for the length of this test match as well, one can only hope that a full game is played.
Teams:
India (From): Anil Kumble(c), Wasim Jaffer, Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Saurav Ganguly, VVS Laxman, Yuvraj Singh, Mahendra Singh Dhoni(w), Irfan Pathan, S Sreesanth, Rudra Pratap Singh, Piyush Chawla, Harbhajan Singh
South Africa (From): Graeme Smith(c), Neil McKenzie, Hashim Amla, Jacques Kallis, AB de Villiers, Ashwell Prince, Jean-Paul Duminy, Mark Boucher(w), Paul Harris, Dale Steyn, Makhaya Ntini, Monde Zondeki, Morne Morkel, Robin Peterson
0 Comments:
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
