The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Rain can still be a pain

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Friday, Sep 28, 2007
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Rain can still be a pain

Principal Correspondent

Our players are keen to play: Dippenaar
The rains have ruined some hopes in the India ‘A’ squad

Vadodara: The skies had cleared briefly and Boeta Dippenaar was sitting atop a light roller next to the covered pitch. "The ground seems fine though a few wet spots on the outfield are a cause for concern. It all depends on the weather staying clear," Dippenaar said and within seconds, passing clouds struck.

A steady drizzle made the South Africa ‘A’ skipper and his coach Mohammed Barney beat a hasty retreat to the pavilion at the Reliance Cricket Stadium inside the IPCL campus here. With an extended monsoon darkening the skies, the second one-dayer between India ‘A’ and South Africa ‘A’ on Friday might go the way of the first at Ahmedabad.

However, India ‘A’ skipper Mohammad Kaif said: "We might have a game that may not be a full 50 overs per side game."

Frustrated

Dippenaar’s words also echoed a mix of urgency and frustration. "Our players are keen to play. Ever since the Dharamshala game we have been watching the rains. But we need to strike a balance between the need to play and the need to prevent injuries, which might happen on these wet outfields," Dippenaar said.

The rains have ruined some hopes in the India ‘A’ squad. "We are doing a lot of physical training and waiting for the game to begin but yes when the rain persists, it does become a lost opportunity for us," Kaif said.

Welcome arrival

For Dippenaar, the arrival of allrounders Albie Morkel and Vernon Philander has been a welcome addition.

“Albie and Vernon are key players for us and I hope we get a game against this Indian side, which is a good one,” Dippenaar said.

Barney, pointing to the skies, chipped in "the pitch looks a typical slow Indian wicket with some turn but…..”.

The teams:

India ‘A’: Mohammad Kaif (capt.), Parthiv Patel, C. Pujara, Karan Goel, Manoj Tiwary, S. Raina, S. Badrinath, Praveen Kumar, P. Ojha, Ishant Sharma, Yomahesh, Pankaj Singh, Arjun Yadav, Abhishek Nayar and Anirudha Srikkanth. Coach: Paras Mhambrey.

South Africa ‘A’: B. Dippenaar (captain), Morne Van Wyk , Albie Morkel, G. Bodi, R. Kleinveldt, Johan Botha, T. Tsolekile, Vernon Philander, A. Petersen, Thandi Tshabalala, Charl Langeveldt, and Justin Ontong. Coach: M. Barney. Umpires: Sameer Bandekar and M.S.S. Ranawat. Third umpire: C. Mohite.

Match referee: Tushar Arothe.

Match timings: 9 a.m. to 4.45 p.m.

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