The Hindu : Sport : ‘Players shouldn’t cross the line’

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Tuesday, Mar 25, 2008
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‘Players shouldn’t cross the line’

Sports Reporter

Chennai: South Africa’s wicket-keeper Mark Boucher, commenting on the ICC’s request for better player behaviour, said that players shouldn’t cross the line.

“Look you shouldn’t overstep the mark. The match referees are going to look to make an example of things if you overstep the mark, especially with all the hype coming from the India-Australia series. Players will have to do things in a clever way to get that extra advantage but you don’t want to lose this because it will take away the competitive streak.”

Despite the city registering increased levels of humidity, Boucher said that the side would cope. “It’s going to take one or two days to get used to, but it’s nothing that we haven’t experienced before. Hopefully the ice baths will be working and the boys will lose a little weight on this tour,” he told newspersons on Monday.

On the side’s strategy to play the spinners, he said, “you have to find the right balance between attack and defence against the spinners. There are times when we have lacked the attacking approach against good spinners in these conditions. If the time arises maybe we will attack a bit more but for that you need get yourselves into a position in the game where you can do that.”

Balanced attack

Pace bowler Dale Steyn, who’s enjoying phenomenal recent success, was confident the bowling attack had balance. “There’s been no pressure on me. That’s been the beautiful thing about the season so far. Graeme has never put me under any pressure. I’ve been given the ball to do a job and I’ve been fortunate enough to be able to do it.

“We’ve got Morne (Morkel), Makhaya (Ntini) … others who can take five-fors and bowl teams out and I get the freedom to run in and take wickets. I’ve been given the freedom in this series too, to run in and bowl sharp, short spells and hopefully I can carry my form into this series. But if not there are others who can do the job.

“Once you find the recipe for success it’s best to stick to it. So I won’t be changing much. It’s worked so far so hopefully I can take that form into this Test match and the whole tour.”

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