Proteas enter the unknown
E VEN for the subcontinent, the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium is off the beaten track.
For some, the journey from Colombo to the venue is a sixhour drive along the newly constructed Chinese highway where roving cows and local buses are just some of the obstacles to navigate along the way. Others, like the Proteas yesterday, required the Sri Lankan military to free up some of their helicopters to take them in VIP style to where they will meet Zimbabwe in their opening World Twenty20 clash today.
Needless to say the Proteas have never played at the stadium, which has only been in existence for 18 months. It is the pet project of Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who has embarked on a personal mission to transform the formerly sleepy fishing village into a sporting and economic hub of the tropical island.
It is this lack of knowledge that will be SA’s biggest challenge today, and not necessarily the Zimbabweans who were dismal in their 82-run defeat by hosts Sri Lanka at the stadium on Tuesday.
But travelling to obscure destinations also does not do the body any favours, and SA were struggling with the fitness of a host of players yesterday. Off-spinner Johan Botha had already suffered from nausea earlier in the week, JP Duminy and Robin Peterson had stomach ailments on Tuesday, and AB de Villiers and Dale Steyn were also not feeling 100 percent yesterday. Allrounder Albie Morkel’s back spasm remains a concern, and he will have fitness test before the 4pm (SA time) start.
“We’ve had a few guys go down with a viral infection, but hopefully all 15 will be available for selection,” Proteas manager Mohammed Moosagee said yesterday.
“JP [Duminy] and Robbie [Peterson] were at training today, while Dale [Steyn] also had a bowl, and Albie [Morkel]