Sth. Africa V. West Indies-2nd Test

[pies4ever]

Kirsten and Adams back for South Africa

Wisden Cricinfo staff

South Africa today announced a 13-man squad for the second and third Test matches against West Indies.

Gary Kirsten returned following the birth of his son, while Paul Adams replaced Robin Peterson after recovering from a hand injury. Garnett Kruger, meanwhile, has been left out.

"Paul Adams is fit again and it was encouraging to see him put in a good performance for the KZN Invitation XI against South Africa schools yesterday," Omar Henry, the coach, said. "As far as Robbie Peterson is concerned, he is an exciting young talent on a steep learning curve who came up against one of the worlds great batsmen in top form at the Wanderers," he added, referring to when Brian Lara smashed Peterson for 28 runs in one over. "Knowing him, he would have learnt from that experience and will come back a better player."

Kirsten's recall means that one of the middle-order batsmen will miss out. "It's great to have a man of Gary's experience and talent back, he brings so much to the team," said Henry. "It also creates more competition among the younger players for a place in the middle order, and that is not a bad thing at all."

The second Test starts at Durban on December 26, and the third Test at Cape Town on January 2. South Africa are 1-0 up in the series following their comprehensive win at the Wanderers last week.

Squad Graeme Smith (capt), Mark Boucher (wk), Paul Adams, Herschelle Gibbs, Andrew Hall, Jacques Kallis, Gary Kirsten, Neil McKenzie, Makhaya Ntini, Andre Nel, Shaun Pollock, Jacques Rudolph, Martin van Jaarsveld.

[commonwombat]

Kirsten's return can only strengthen a formidable top order which I feel may prove will beyond the WI to consistently break or contain. Either Rudolph or Van Jaarsveld will miss out and would lean to Rudolph to carry the drinks.

Peterson was mauled by Lara but is still worth persevering with for a longer period. Tend to think he may add more to the side all around. Adams is a known factor and has never reaaly moved on from his early days. With the exception of Lara, many of the WI are still less than sensational against spin and Newlands is the track that will turn the most and is Adams home track.

[couragous cloke]

Wombat i disagree with u when ya say that we're not very good players of spin with the exception of lara. Maybe 4-5 years ago but this batting line up plays spin very well.

As for Kirsten, Will be hard to Hit em over now with our Weak bowling line up, hopefully if we can get the score on the board early and put the pressure on we can square up this series.

I havent Givin up yet!

[commonwombat]

Improved yes, top drawer no.

FYI, Newlands traditionally plays lower and slower than any of the venues for these 4 Tests. WI lack of a quality spinner will count against them squaring the series after this match.

Essentially, Lara heroics or at least massive performances from at least 2 of his support cast will be required in each of the remaining matches to have yr guys within a shot of winning. Whilst expecting some more heroics, I somehow doubt that they will come often enough for WI to win the series.

[couragous cloke]

So traditionally this is a spinners wicket eh!? excellent! Lara should dominate.. its a pity our only desent spinner, banks is injured

[commonwombat]

CC,

Will require Lara to dominate and some others to do the business. Sorry to also inform you, it is also home and happy hunting ground for Kirsten, Kallis and Smith. Draw is prob my most likely result.

[couragous cloke]

Yeh i think we're capable... just abit worried about our bowlers, i cant see them taking 20 wickets, i suppose if the batsmen put the score on the board, anything can happen.

1-1 GO WINDIES

[Donny]

Injury-hit West Indies face battle

From correspondents in Durban - Fox Sports

THE West Indies, already hard hit by injuries, had a scare Wednesday when captain Brian Lara was taken to hospital for precautionary X-rays after being hit on the left arm during practice for the second Test against South Africa starting at Kingsmead Friday.

Manager Ricky Skerritt and coach Gus Logie both said they expected Lara to play Friday in what will be his 100th Test match.

But Logie revealed that opening batsman Chris Gayle and pace bowler Corey Collymore had both been ruled out because of hamstring injuries.

Logie said the injuries provided opportunities for young players to prove themselves but it was not clear which of the touring youngsters would play.

Uncapped specialist batsman Dwayne Smith and reserve wicketkeeper Carlton Baugh, who has played in two Tests, are the contenders for Gayle's batting place.

Fast bowler Adam Sanford, who took five wickets in the rain-hit match against Border last weekend, is likely to slot into Collymore's place if the West Indies decide on an all-seam attack, but left-arm spinner Dave Mohammed will also be considered.

The West Indies went into the first Test in Johannesburg, which South Africa won by 189 runs, without a specialist spin bowler because Gayle was expected to bowl a reasonable number of overs of off-spin.

But Gayle tore his hamstring early in the match and did not bowl.

Logie said the final decision would be made after a discussion with former batting star Viv Richards, the convenor of selectors, who joined the squad in Durban.

The South Africans will go into the match as favourites after a convincing win in Johannesburg. They have no major injury worries, although the selectors will want to be sure that opening batsman Herschelle Gibbs has fully recovered after suffering a broken nose in the first Test.

Experienced batsman Gary Kirsten will return for South Africa after missing the first Test to be at the birth of his first child. South Africa named a squad of 13, so it was not clear which of Jacques Rudolph, Neil McKenzie and Martin van Jaarsveld would make way for Kirsten.

In another change, left-arm wrist spinner Paul Adams replaced orthodox left-armer Robin Peterson but the state of the Kingsmead pitch will determine whether Adams is in the starting line-up.

If it is decided, conditions are likely to be seam-friendly, all-rounder Andrew Hall could be picked to augment the South African pace attack.

Lara again shapes as a key player after making 202 in the first innings in Johannesburg. He will be only the sixth West Indian and 28th player in history to appear in 100 Test matches.

He will be hoping for better support from his teamates. Only Daren Ganga and Shivnarine Chanderpaul made half-centuries for the West Indies in the first Test as pressure exerted by South Africa's disciplined bowling attack told on the tourists.

Vice-captain Ramnaresh Sarwan showed signs of a return to form when he made an unbeaten 71 against Border. He said after Wednesday's practice that he had benefitted from advice to "watch the ball more closely."

The West Indies wrapped up their formal preparation before the South Africans got down to work. The home side were due to practice Wednesday afternoon and again on Christmas Day.

Logie said there would be a voluntary practice for the tourists Thursday.

Teams:

South Africa: Graeme Smith (captain), Mark Boucher (vice-captain), Herschelle Gibbs, Jacques Rudolph, Jacques Kallis, Gary Kirsten, Neil McKenzie, Martin van Jaarsveld, Shaun Pollock, Andrew Hall, Paul Adams, Makhaya Ntini, Andre Nel.

West Indies: Brian Lara (captain), Ramnaresh Sarwan (vice-captain), Wavell Hinds, Daren Ganga, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Dwayne Smith, Ridley Jacobs, Carlton Baugh, Vasbert Drakes, Mervyn Dillon, Fidel Edwards, Ravindarnath Rampaul, Adam Sanford, Dave Mohammed.

Umpires: Simon Taufel and Darrell Hair (AUS). Television umpire: Ian Howell (RSA). Match referee: Ranjan Madugalle (SRI).

[Donny]

Lara and the three cops

Rahul Bhatia - Fox Sports


"Brian's fine."

Ricky Skerrit finally uttered the words that West Indies were anxious to hear. Brian Lara was not injured, his forearm was just fine, and yes, he would definitely play in the second Test in Durban.

For a while it didn't look likely. A net bowler, of all people, hit Lara on his left forearm, prompting a hospital visit. With the x-rays showing everything intact, the man West Indies is looking up to can go out and strut his stuff. For if there's one man South Africa fears in this series, it's Lara.

"Lara is the type of guy who can kill you in one session," Mark Boucher said. Left to his schemes, Lara can change the course of a match rapidly, as he showed with his knock of 202 in the first Test. But he also needs support, which South Africa stifled successfully, largely due to Shaun Pollock, Makhaya Ntini, and Andre Nel, who knocked over 19 batsmen at an average of below 20.

The West Indian batsmen will have to find a way of standing together for long periods, because South Africa's fast bowlers follow a disconcerting good cop-bad cop-bad cop routine, where Pollock bowls a gentle tight line, Ntini comes up with serious pace, and Nel follows, with a war mask for a face, and bowling that's just as hostile. Eric Simons, South Africa's coach, feels that pace, bounce, and the right line will unsettle the batsmen, and if Nel is aggressive enough, wickets will fall.

Aggression is never in short supply with Nel around – he was fined for making an obscene gesture in the first Test.

But West Indies have their own frighteningly quick bowler in Fidel Edwards. The Kingsmead pitch, which assists quick bowling and lateral movement, will be to Edwards's liking.

Even then, the West Indian bowlers will need more than just that to trouble Graeme Smith's team. The bowlers were inconsistent with their line and length in the last Test, and Smith and Jacques Kallis made merry with big centuries, while Herschelle Gibbs showed his good form, shrugging off the nose-rearrangement.

Then there's more news – good and bad, depending on which side you're on. Gary Kirsten is all set to return after missing the first Test for his son's birth. And Robin Peterson, who was tonked for 28 in one over, will make way for Paul Adams, further strengthening the team.

Unlike South Africa, West Indies will go into the second Test with a depleted side. Chris Gayle, who played much of the first match with a torn hamstring, has been ruled out. Corey Collymore has also been ruled out, also with a hamstring injury.

It's likely that Adam Sanford, who claimed a five-for in a tour game against Border over the weekend, will replace Collymore, while Darren Ganga will open the batting with a clearly struggling Wavell Hinds. The openers are a worry. Stands of 43 and 5 sit poorly beside the 149 and 72 Smith and Gibbs put up on a shirt-front wicket.

Lara, realising that his side cannot match the South Africans consistently, says that results are not important, and it's the thought process that counts, "If it's the batsman's style to attack, that's the way he must play." He should know. He'll play his 100th Test tomorrow.

Shivnarine Chanderpaul made a carefree 74 in Johannesburg, but it came when all was lost. Gayle scored 34 in the match, of which 32 came in boundaries. Nice, but the man couldn't run.

West Indies will have to change tack if they want to give South Africa a run for their money. With Kirsten hell-bent on scoring his 20th century at Durban, the other batsmen in great form, three fast bowlers who don't wait for things to happen, and a spinner whose bowling action is as confusing as his bowling, things are not going to get any easier.

Then again, if they look half-way around the world for inspiration, there's another team that was expected to drop dead, but has not done too badly.

It's time to stand up, or else be flattened by a team that will come out with its guns blazing.

[commonwombat]

Ah it is at Durban, must have misread that itinery and thought the second was in Capte Town.

Kingsmead is traditionally a good batting track with regular pace and bounce. Pace bowlers generally don't mind it here and early in the match can generally get v sinificant assistance. This is Pollock's home track (and mine, going back into the depths of the early 80's)

Spin can get some assistance but the spin quality on hand doesn't look of earth shattering quality. Will SA go all pace???? Would guard against it because Hall is a VERY mediocre cricketer at the top level and is insipid with the ball. Adams in will weaken the batting but may still be a threat against some of the WI order.

[Donny]

Rain has delayed the start.

[Donny]

Sth. Africa won the toss and sent the Windies in to bat.

The Proteas go in with no spinners. Hall and Kirsten come in and replace van Jaarsveld and Peterson.

Baugh and Sanford are the new faces for the Windies.

Pollock strikes in his first over, claiming Hinds for a duck.

[Donny]

Pollock drops one in short and Sarwan cuts him over point for a boundary.

Next ball, fuller, bit of bounce, edged and caught by Kallis at 2nd. slip.

[Donny]

Pollock in the action again.

This time as catcher. He caught Ganga (6) at 1st. slip from Ntini. 3/15.

[Donny]

Chanderpaul gone as well.

Caught by Hall at 4th. slip from Ntini. 4/17.