SL no longer in the sub-continent – Smith 0
Posted on
December 14, 2011 by
Ken
Graeme Smith says Sri Lanka are no longer in the sub-continent and must accept the reality that they will be facing a pace bombardment in the first test against South Africa at SuperSport Park in Centurion from Thursday.
South Africa’s captain did stress, however, that his fast bowlers need to attack the Sri Lankan batsmen in controlled fashion.
“Whenever we’re in the sub-continent, it involves plenty of spin in those conditions. The reality is that they now have to face our pace bowlers in our conditions.
“But control is the key, the bowlers have to have the right mindset and we can’t get ahead of ourselves with the ball,” Smith said in Centurion on Wednesday.
To make matters worse for the Sri Lankans, an ominously green SuperSport Park pitch suggests batting will not be for the fainthearted. Groundsman Hilbert Smit has admitted previously that he errs on the side of the bowlers when it comes to test pitches, but the balance seems to have swung too far this time in favour of the pacemen.
Even Graeme Smith was taken aback by the verdant covering that greeted his team when they inspected the pitch on Wednesday morning.
“The pitch looks pretty green! I think the groundsman’s having a bit of a panic, he’ll be wanting heaters and I reckon there’ll be a tent up over the pitch this afternoon.
“He only started preparing the pitch on Monday and he desperately needs some sunshine. I’m sure he hoped for more sunshine than he got,” Smith said.
This is great news for South Africa’s quartet of pace bowlers – Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel, Vernon Philander and Jacques Kallis. In fact, that might even become a quintet as the little sub-tropical dorp of Tzaneen could celebrate their first international cricketer in Marchant de Lange.
The 21-year-old could be called up for his debut, turning his “work experience” into a full-on job for his country if South Africa decide to omit leg-spinner Imran Tahir and go the all-pace route.
Smith warned, however, that South Africa’s batsmen could also face a testing examination even though Sri Lanka’s attack is nothing like Australia’s on paper.
“It’s going to be different for our batsmen too – all the Australian bowlers were around 145km/h – but if we don’t give enough application and concentration to the job then we can slip on that banana peel as well. These conditions can turn a seamer with a limited record into a seamer with a good record very quickly,” Smith said.
Wicketkeeper Mark Boucher is one batsman who is under more pressure than most to score runs, the record-breaker staring the end of his international career in the face unless he comes up with the goods at Centurion.
Smith said the 35-year-old had put in outstanding preparation for the test.
“Bouch is never going to change his personality, he’s coming into the game with calm focus. He’s worked hard on aspects of his batting and, even though he didn’t get the opportunity to play a long innings, he played some key little innings for the Cobras.
“I hope all the hard work comes off for him. As a team, we’re collectively behind Bouch, and I’m really excited with the way he’s trained, he’s looked good in the nets. He’s always an asset for a team, with his experience and the way he handles the bowlers,” Smith said.
All of which does not change the fact that, unless Boucher can come up with some runs, he may well be out of the team.