Cook predicts slow start at Bullring
PROTEAS opening batsman Stephen Cook is expecting the Wanderers Stadium to serve up the usual pace and bounce during the third and final Test against Sri Lanka that starts in Johannesburg today (from 10am).
Cook said the wicket at the Bullring may be slow in the beginning, but it will start to quicken from day two.
“The weather has not been brilliant over the last couple of days and the pitch is probably a little bit behind in terms of hardness, as it should be‚” he said.
“Generally this season there have been cracks on the wicket‚ especially when it has been dry and maybe the moisture will keep it together.
“But‚ there ought to be the usual pace and bounce.
“It may be slow to start the game, but from day two and three it will start to quicken up.”
Given the nature of the pacey conditions at Wanderers‚ which has been his home for 17 years‚ Cook said spin has been ineffective in the past.
“I think someone like Keshav Maharaj‚ who has shown the ability to contain‚ could do the job and allow the quicks to come hard on the other end,” he said.
The 34-year-old opener described the opportunity of playing in front of his home crowd as a dream come true despite the possibility of the occasion being overshadowed by Hashim Amla’s 100th Test appearance.
Cook said they were targeting a clean sweep to round off what has been a good series against the Sri Lankans.
“We have just come from a team meeting where we have spoken about the importance of being two nil up and finishing the job,” he said.
“We spoke about it in Australia, but didn’t do the business after having done the whitewash in the ODIs.”