Pitches spice up series
CRICKET: The two best bowling attacks in world cricket going head to head on “spiced up” pitches could spell nightmares for Australian and South African batsman when the first Test starts in Durban on Thursday.
But Australian coach Darren Lehmann is unconcerned about what the wicket at the Kingsmead ground may produce, declaring his Ashes winning team is confident about getting the job done.
The standard of pitches was a major talking point throughout the Proteas’ recent Test series win over India with the wicket at the Wanderers ground in Johanesburg declared “poor” by the match referee.
That game was nearly cancelled after day three because of the dangerous nature of the pitch amid claims South African team officials were having too much say in how wickets would be prepared.
Fast bowlers dominated batsmen for that entire series taking 106 of the 114 wickets in the three Tests.
It’s likely going to be the case again this series with Australia’s frontline pace attack of Mitch Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins fresh off obliterating England in the recent
‘‘ THE WICKETS WILL BE PRETTY GOOD. IF THEY SPICE THEM UP, THEN GREAT, GAME ON. DARREN LEHMANN
Ashes series.
The South African outfit, headlined by Kagiso Radaba and Vernon Philander, are set to shine even without veteran quick Dale Steyn who remains on the comeback from injury.
Proteas coach Ottis Gibson declared at the weekend that team officials would have no input on the pitch in Durban and would “see what we get”.
But his Australian counterpart Lehmann said he wouldn’t mind whatever wickets were served up.
“The wickets will be pretty good I think. If they spice them up, then great, game on,” Lehmann said.
“I’m not too worried about whichever way they go. We are going to have to play well against their quality bowling attack, and they will have to play well against ours.”
Australia last played a Test match in Durban in 2009, when twin centuries to Phil Hughes guided the tourists to a big win.
Lehmann expects another left-handed opener, David
Warner, to lead the Aussie charge this time around after his huge haul last time he was in South Africa.
Warner pounded 543 runs, with three centuries, in just three Tests and despite missing the warm-up game as he captained Australia to a Twenty20 tri-series win, Lehmann said he expected big things.
“I think you will find David Warner will take them on a bit,” Lehmann said.
“The guys have had a great Test series against England so they are full of confidence, and they started the tour well.
“Someone like Warner, he had a great series four years ago, if he does that again we are on the way to big scores.”