The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : S. Africa to seek bouncy pitches

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Thursday, Dec 14, 2006
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S. Africa to seek bouncy pitches

Special Correspondent

Johannesburg: South African coach Mickey Arthur made it clear here on Wednesday that his team would seek bouncy pitches for the three-Test series against India.

He revealed that the side had released batsman Jacques Rudolph and left-arm wrist spinner Paul Adams from the squad for the first Test beginning at the Wanderers on Friday.

Arthur was not willing to take the Indian batting lightly despite its capitulation in the one-day series. In the same breath, he added the South Africans would keep the pressure on the Indian batsmen just as they did in the one-day series with an all-pace attack. He, however, hinted that a spinner could be picked for the third Test in Cape Town.

The coach had words of praise for his two quickest bowlers Mkhaya Ntini and Dale Steyn. Arthur acknowledged the contribution of left-arm spinning all-rounder Nicky Boje, but said the cricketer's shock retirement from international cricket, he pulled out of the 15 for the series, would have no impact on the morale of the side.

The South Africans had an intense practice session at the Wanderers, while the Indians, apart from Sourav Ganguly and Gautam Gambhir, had a day off. Ganguly and Gambhir turned up at the Wanderers in the afternoon.

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