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SA can’t shake off spin fear

NEW DELHI: Desperate times call for desperate measures. With the Test series already decided in favour of India, the struggling South Africans are looking for one last chance to redeem some pride by putting up some fight against the Indian spin trio of Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Amit Mishra.

SA can’t shake off spin fear

The South African players during a practice session in New Delhi on Tuesday ahead of the fourth Test. PTI



Sabi Hussain

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, DECEMBER 1

Desperate times call for desperate measures. With the Test series already decided in favour of India, the struggling South Africans are looking for one last chance to redeem some pride by putting up some fight against the Indian spin trio of Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Amit Mishra.

Having spent almost a month searching for answers to the guile of the Indian spinners and the bounce and turn they are generating on the tailor-made tracks, the South Africans are trying every possible method to prepare themselves for the fourth and final Test starting in New Delhi from December 3.

The tactics involve placing the stumps about four feet behind the usual position, and then getting the bowlers with actions similar to the Indian spin trio bowl in the ‘rough’. On Tuesday, the South African batsmen had the net bowlers bowling at them in the ‘rough’ from 15 yards at the Ferozeshah Kotla Stadium.

The South African support staff, led by spin-bowling consultant Claude Henderson, has been trying out different ways to instil the required patience and application in the South African batsmen to counter spin. Apart from the net bowlers, South Africa’s assistant coach Adrian Birrell bowled leg-spin, along with Imran Tahir, in the ‘rough’ to give their batsmen some idea about how to handle leg-spinner Mishra.

“The Indian spinners are a big threat. We are trying to do very specific training to counter them,” said Birrell, after his team’s practice session today. “We put the stumps a little behind and used the rough there, trying to simulate the conditions we may get during the match.

“We are getting the spinners to try and throw the balls like Ashwin bowls. We try to compete against him in practice. We are trying to simulate the conditions we may get in the middle,” said Birrell. “I am a leg-spinner. I am bowling from a very short run, trying to emulate Mishra. I am not even close but I have been trying because our batsmen need it. We are doing everything we can... Unfortunately, we are not quite as good as Ashwin or Mishra,” he added.

Birrell accepted that his team has played below their potential and singled out Ashwin as the one responsible for it. “He is probably tighter than anyone else, doesn’t give any bad balls. Maybe that’s been the difference between the two sides.

“We gave away some easy runs to India but we had to fight for every run. Ashwin is on the top of his game. It has been difficult for us against him. It’s a challenge to try and get used to playing him,” said Birrell.

The South Africans have been expecting yet another turner, but Birrell, after having a look at the wicket, hoped that the Test may go beyond three days.

He said one shouldn’t read too much into the pitch debate as the dynamics of Test cricket have changed. “There are a lot of Tests not going the full five days. There are very few draws, the game is a lot faster. Every Test I have been involved in over the last two-and-a-half years has been very competitive and very tense,” he explained.

Steyn still doubtful

The South Africans are having sleepless nights over the fitness of their pace spearhead Dale Steyn. He has still not recovered fully from his groin injury sustained during the first Test in Mohali. On Tuesday also, Steyn’s cover Marchant de Lange, had an extended bowling session. Steyn spent much of his time talking to local speedsters. “He is still nursing the injury. We need him 100 per cent fit before we play him. He will undergo another round of fitness test on Wednesday before a decision is made,” Birrell said.

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