The quaint Sewnes ground in Potchefstroom was the setting of India’s rigorous morning training session, one that started rather early.
The quaint Sewnes ground in Potchefstroom was the setting of India’s rigorous morning training session, one that started rather early considering that the team was engaged in a day/night warm-up encounter against New Zealand on Sunday.
The bowlers, minus Ashish Nehra and Harbhajan Singh who didn’t play the game, received a pounding at the hands of New Zealand and the huge margin of defeat wasn’t the best of starts for one of the favourties. A consistent bowling performance by this unit spearheaded by Ishant Sharma is the need of the hour.
The bowlers went for runs and the batsmen didn’t show the gumption to chase down the total and there wouldn’t be too many tick marks against the boxes in coach Gary Kirsten’s book. Rahul Dravid stressed on Sunday that practice games aren’t indicators of the form, especially in this case with Sachin Tendulkar and Gautam Gambhir not playing.
But of concern will be the bowling unit. The three-hour training session was high on intensity as everyone was put through the grind and players pulled out of their comfort zone by the coach.
The lightening quick outfields at SuperSport Park and the Wanderers will keep the fielders on their toes and give bowlers little margin for error. Fielding has been a worry for India with catches being spilled and runs leaked and the inability of the bowlers to keep things in check have only added to the problem.
Ishant Sharma hasn’t been probing enough with his line and length, while Ashish Nehra has blown hot and cold. Both Praveen Kumar and Rudra Pratap Singh depend heavily on the conditions. Harbhajan Singh had to bail out India when the Sri Lankan batsmen turned it on during the chase in the tri-series final.
In South Africa the fast bowlers will have to do their bit, else the batsmen will be under immense pressure. The team’s session on Monday was their last in Potchefstroom, before they head back to Johannesburg, and coach Kirsten ensured everyone was fully occupied.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}