Proteas captain Graeme Smith announced that the final team selection for his team to face Australia in the first Sunfoil Test at SuperSport Park in Centurion tomorrow will only be decided on overnight after the selectors and coaches have had an opportunity to see the pitch conditions…..
Smith says the Centurion wicket was always a good one to play Test cricket on and is hopeful that it will also have something for his seamers to work with……
It is likely that spinner Robin Peterson will be in the team to play against Australia with Smith intimating that it has become critical to play every Test with an outright spinner……..
Smith also said that regardless of whether his team win the toss or not tomorrow, what is important is for them to do well in what they will be presented with and is confident that his team no longer fear what happens at the toss……
Smith said that his team had done all the preparation required and that it was time to execute it on the field of play and is hopeful that his team can do so in the following three Tests………
With the Proteas having beaten the Australians in their last away series, Smith is wary of the backlash but has urged his team to prove to the world why they are the number one Test team in the world……
Australian captain Michael Clarke says he expects the Centurion wicket to be a typical South African one with plenty of pace and bounce but one that should also suit batsmen as well……
While this tour has been seen as one to determine which team has the best fast bowling unit in the world, Clarke says it would be a bonus to have a to have an extra seamer but would love to have batsmen who can also bowl……
Clarke believes that playing the Proteas in their own backyard will be the ultimate test for his team and says that the Proteas deserve all the respect as the number one Test team in the world. However Clarke said that his team is high on confidence after their Ashes series whitewash against England……
Clarke said that the Proteas secret to success over the years has been their ability to mix experience with youth and that they belong on top of world cricket……Journalist: Vata Ngobeni
Image source: Gallo Images
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