The Hindu : Sport : The conditions will favour spinners: Kallis

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The conditions will favour spinners: Kallis

Sports Reporter

Chennai: The Indian team’s recent performances came in for praise from Jacques Kallis, who said that the side didn’t have too many weaknesses.

“It’s been quite a surprise to see the Indian team perform so well against Australia, in conditions that were different from how they are here. It’s been very good for them. They have the right mix of youth and experience. The side doesn’t have too many weaknesses, and has plenty of experience,” he told newspersons on Sunday.

The middle-order batsman said that touring India was always tough. “The toughest place to play will always be Australia, since the Aussies are the No.1 side in the world; but India is a tough side and a tough place to tour. We have to play good cricket, but we’re confident. Both teams have done well. It will be an unbelievable series.”

Swing factor

On the prospect of facing India’s successful swing bowlers, he said, “there will not be too much swing here. The conditions will pretty much favour the spinners. Even if they do favour swing, we’ve grown up playing swing and seam bowling. We’ve made a lot of trips to the sub-continent, which has helped us improve on playing spin. The myth that South Africans cannot play spin doesn’t exist anymore.”

On his decision to join the IPL despite the hectic schedule, he said, “under certain circumstances, it is tough to turn down good money. It depends on what the individual wants. It might help if the ICC could integrate the IPL into the current scene and work out some formula, like have 20-25 ODIs and 14-15 Tests.”

Kallis said the team selection and the controversies thereafter had been “frustrating.” The problem is with those not involved with selecting, getting into selection. The selectors should select a squad, and no one else should interfere.”

Left-arm spinner Paul Harris revealed that he’d been looking forward to bowling in India his entire career.

“It will be a challenge to bowl to the Indian top-order. I’ve prepared well for this, and have different plans for the batsmen.”

Harris refused to name a particular batsman he would target. “They all play spin very well, and I will not name any one batsman; but it will be very nice to bowl to Sachin (Tendulkar),” he said, adding that he was up to the challenge of bowling long spells.

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