India will counter South Africa’s pace attack with their own fast bowlers. This was the promise made by Indian coach Greg Chappell on Tuesday.
Chappell was speaking after the team’s arrival for a seven-week tour that includes a Twenty20 match, five one-day internationals (ODIs) and three Test matches.
”We know that South Africa have a very impressive pace attack, but we intend to fight fire with fire,” said Chappell. ”We have tried to develop some depth in our bowling, whatever the conditions, and I think we are getting there.
”Fast bowlers were very important for our series win in the West Indies, and they will be very important in South Africa as well.”
Indian captain Rahul Dravid said the team would build on the confidence they had gained from their successful tour of the West Indies, and he brushed aside suggestions that India would be badly affected by their poor performance in the ICC Champions Trophy in India last month.
He also dismissed suggestions that India might have a psychological problem about playing on South African pitches, which were so much faster than the low, slow pitches in India.
”We’ve had successes in South Africa before,” said Dravid. ”We reached the final of the World Cup here in 2003, and a number of our batsmen have scored some very good centuries here.
”Quite a few of the senior players have been here before, and we have discussed the conditions here with the younger players. We enjoy batting on these pitches — the ball coming onto the bat and giving you the ability to play shots. You have to take into account that certain shots should be avoided, but you do have a wider range of strokes available to you.
”We also enjoy the anonymity of playing away from home, where we can relax and do normal things. I think the benefit of that relaxation off the field will be evident on the field,” said Dravid.
Asked about the recent poor form of the world’s most prolific batsman, Sachin Tendulkar, Dravid said he hoped the Little Maestro would show South African crowds what he was capable of.
”He had a good start to the season, with a magnificent century in Malaysia,” said Dravid. ”He’s a true champion and I hope he will fire on all cylinders and provide the South African crowds with some enjoyment.”
Chappell said the team was taking both the ODIs and the Tests very seriously.
”They are equally important to us, and we want to do well in both, but at the moment we are focusing on the ODIs. Like all other countries, we have next year’s World Cup in mind, and the team we are fielding here is very close to our World Cup squad.”
The tour starts at Willowmoore Park in Benoni on Thursday when India play the Rest of South Africa in a day-night game. The first official ODI is a day-night match at the Wanderers on Sunday. — Sapa