Proteas must keep momentum
News posted in from the SA News site: www.news24.co.za
Christo Buchner, Beeld
Johannesburg - Maintaining their momentum after the series victory over India is the task the South African cricket team will face when the first of three Test matches against Pakistan starts in Centurion on Thursday.
Proteas coach Mickey Arthur believes the most-important part of his team's preparations lies in the mental approach.
"That is why we did not make the guys practise too hard today," said Arthur on Wednesday.
"The bowlers sent down only 10 or 12 balls each. As soon as they felt their rhythm was right, they stopped.
"The batsmen, also, did not spend much time in the nets.
"To come back (from 1-0 down) against India took a lot out of the players. It is important that they now save their energy for the Tests against Pakistan," he said.
"Pakistan will be a stiff test. They have a well-balanced team and a better attack than India.
"We will have to shake them early and hard to get them on the back foot."
Up to top six batsmen
The South Africans, sixth on the list of the top teams in the world, set themselves a goal of beating both India and Pakistan.
The job against India, rated the world's fourth-best team, has been completed. Now, they take on third-ranked Pakistan.
Arthur revealed that one of his goals in the three-Test series against Pakistan was to see his six top batsmen score well.
"We have to return to the days when we put our opponents under pressure by making big scores.
"Hashim Amla will certainly bat at No 3 again. He looked good in Cape Town and I feel he deserves another chance in that position. We won't easily change the present top-six order."
Arthur said the pitch felt moist and on the soft side on Wednesday. He expected it to be a little slow on the first day, but to provide more pace as it dried out in the sun.
'Pitch should be our ally'
"We are in the fortunate position that we now have five players who can bowl faster than 140km/h. We are also working hard on the bowling combinations.
"The pace and bounce in the pitch should be our ally," said Arthur.
"In Cape Town, Shaun Pollock and Jacques Kallis generated reverse swing and that is something we should employ more often."
Fast bowler André Nel showed no signs on Wednesday of the foot injury that made him miss the third Test against India.
However, Arthur said Morné Morkel would remain with the team as a precautionary measure until a final decision about Nel's fitness was taken.
Top-order batsman Jacques Rudolph has been released from the SA squad to play for the Eagles in the SuperSport competition.
Blow to the ribs
SA captain Graeme Smith did not attend the media briefing on Wednesday. He took a blow to the ribs in Cape Town, but Arthur gave the assurance that the opener would play.
Dale Steyn, who still has thigh problems, will not be considered.
However, it seems certain that left-arm spinner Paul Harris will play on his home ground after his convincing debut in Cape Town.
Arthur sees Pakistani spinner Danish Kaneria as a threat, but believes the touring team's top order may be vulnerable.
"We'll have to strike early so we can get among batsmen such as Younis Khan and Inzamam-ul-Haq while the ball is still new."
Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer said the absence of star batsman Muhammad Yousuf was a major blow.
"He made 200 runs in nearly every Test last year and we'll have to get someone else to do it now," he said.
"The top six will have to make their contributions without Yousuf, but fortunately Younis Khan and Inzamam are back."
Fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar will arrive in South Africa only after the start of the first Test and will be considered only for the second Test in Port Elizabeth.
The teams:
South Africa (from): Graeme Smith (c), AB de Villiers, Hashim Amla, Jacques Kallis, Ashwell Prince, Herschelle Gibbs, Mark Boucher, Shaun Pollock, Paul Harris, André Nel, Makhaya Ntini, Andrew Hall and Morné Morkel.
Pakistan: Mohammad Hafeez, Imran Fahrat, Yazeer Hameed, Younis Khan, Inzamam-ul-Haq (c), Faizel Iqbal, Kamran Akmal, Danish Kaneria, Mohammad Asif, Mohammad Sami and Rana Naved.
Start: 10:30.
TV: On SuperSport 2 and SS 7 from 10:00 and from 10:20 on SABC 3.
Hire a car and go watch them live: www.southafrica-carhire.com
Christo Buchner, Beeld
Johannesburg - Maintaining their momentum after the series victory over India is the task the South African cricket team will face when the first of three Test matches against Pakistan starts in Centurion on Thursday.
Proteas coach Mickey Arthur believes the most-important part of his team's preparations lies in the mental approach.
"That is why we did not make the guys practise too hard today," said Arthur on Wednesday.
"The bowlers sent down only 10 or 12 balls each. As soon as they felt their rhythm was right, they stopped.
"The batsmen, also, did not spend much time in the nets.
"To come back (from 1-0 down) against India took a lot out of the players. It is important that they now save their energy for the Tests against Pakistan," he said.
"Pakistan will be a stiff test. They have a well-balanced team and a better attack than India.
"We will have to shake them early and hard to get them on the back foot."
Up to top six batsmen
The South Africans, sixth on the list of the top teams in the world, set themselves a goal of beating both India and Pakistan.
The job against India, rated the world's fourth-best team, has been completed. Now, they take on third-ranked Pakistan.
Arthur revealed that one of his goals in the three-Test series against Pakistan was to see his six top batsmen score well.
"We have to return to the days when we put our opponents under pressure by making big scores.
"Hashim Amla will certainly bat at No 3 again. He looked good in Cape Town and I feel he deserves another chance in that position. We won't easily change the present top-six order."
Arthur said the pitch felt moist and on the soft side on Wednesday. He expected it to be a little slow on the first day, but to provide more pace as it dried out in the sun.
'Pitch should be our ally'
"We are in the fortunate position that we now have five players who can bowl faster than 140km/h. We are also working hard on the bowling combinations.
"The pace and bounce in the pitch should be our ally," said Arthur.
"In Cape Town, Shaun Pollock and Jacques Kallis generated reverse swing and that is something we should employ more often."
Fast bowler André Nel showed no signs on Wednesday of the foot injury that made him miss the third Test against India.
However, Arthur said Morné Morkel would remain with the team as a precautionary measure until a final decision about Nel's fitness was taken.
Top-order batsman Jacques Rudolph has been released from the SA squad to play for the Eagles in the SuperSport competition.
Blow to the ribs
SA captain Graeme Smith did not attend the media briefing on Wednesday. He took a blow to the ribs in Cape Town, but Arthur gave the assurance that the opener would play.
Dale Steyn, who still has thigh problems, will not be considered.
However, it seems certain that left-arm spinner Paul Harris will play on his home ground after his convincing debut in Cape Town.
Arthur sees Pakistani spinner Danish Kaneria as a threat, but believes the touring team's top order may be vulnerable.
"We'll have to strike early so we can get among batsmen such as Younis Khan and Inzamam-ul-Haq while the ball is still new."
Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer said the absence of star batsman Muhammad Yousuf was a major blow.
"He made 200 runs in nearly every Test last year and we'll have to get someone else to do it now," he said.
"The top six will have to make their contributions without Yousuf, but fortunately Younis Khan and Inzamam are back."
Fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar will arrive in South Africa only after the start of the first Test and will be considered only for the second Test in Port Elizabeth.
The teams:
South Africa (from): Graeme Smith (c), AB de Villiers, Hashim Amla, Jacques Kallis, Ashwell Prince, Herschelle Gibbs, Mark Boucher, Shaun Pollock, Paul Harris, André Nel, Makhaya Ntini, Andrew Hall and Morné Morkel.
Pakistan: Mohammad Hafeez, Imran Fahrat, Yazeer Hameed, Younis Khan, Inzamam-ul-Haq (c), Faizel Iqbal, Kamran Akmal, Danish Kaneria, Mohammad Asif, Mohammad Sami and Rana Naved.
Start: 10:30.
TV: On SuperSport 2 and SS 7 from 10:00 and from 10:20 on SABC 3.
Hire a car and go watch them live: www.southafrica-carhire.com
