It is unfortunate that there is not more time for South Africa to get used to conditions in India, but they will just have to use every opportunity to familiarise themselves with conditions there, former batting great Daryll Cullinan said on Thursday.
”I believe the team should do quite well in India,” he said. ”Many of them have been there before, and they will be able to help the players who haven’t been there.
”It’s a pity that they don’t have time for more warm-up matches, but they must just make the most of the warm-up matches they do have, as well as the practice facilities.”
Cullinan, who made his highest Test score (275) at Eden Park in Kolkota in 1999, played well in the sub-continent, and his advice to the South African team was to be patient and the runs would come.
”Big hitters can do well there, so Justin Kemp should have an important role to play,” he said.
He predicts that his former Titans teammate AB de Villiers will have a successful career in both Test and limited-overs cricket, although the South African opener had a disappointing series against New Zealand.
”He’s too good a player not to come right,” said Cullinan. ”He needs to be a bit more cautious, and less aggressive. I think he’s possibly trying too hard at the moment, but I have no doubt that he will come right. What’s important is that the team and the selectors should show their faith in him, and back him up.
”Perhaps he needs to play more Test cricket at this stage. But I believe he will have an outstanding career in both forms of the game.”
Cullinan said it was a brave decision to send an untried spin-bowler like Johan Botha to India to bowl to players such as Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar.
”He is going to have to have nerves of steel — he could either be a spectacular success or a calamitous failure,” he said. ”He will also need all the support of the rest of the team. India is an unforgiving place to launch an international career.
”I just hope the spinners are treated properly, and used when spin is warranted, and not just because they are there,” he added.
”I think perhaps the selection of a young player like Botha highlights our desperation to develop some spin-bowlers before the World Cup in 2007.” — Sapa