South Africa in India 2007-08

'Our fast bowlers are capable of dismissing India twice' - Smith

Cricinfo staff

March 22, 2008

	South Africa's batting will revolve around Jacques Kallis, Graeme Smith and Mark Boucher © Getty Images

Graeme Smith, South Africa's captain, is confident that his team has the pace arsenal to trouble India in the three-Test series which starts on March 26 in Chennai.

"India are a formidable side at home but we have the team to succeed in their conditions," Smith said on the squad's arrival in Chennai. "We have two good spinners in left-armers Paul Harris and Robin Peterson and a battery of young fast bowlers who are capable of dismissing India twice in a game."

South Africa's pace attack comprises an in-form Dale Steyn, who picked 14 wickets in two Tests against Bangladesh recently, Morne Morkel, Makhaya Ntini and Monde Zondeki. However, Ntini has been a disappointment in subcontinental conditions (excluding Bangladesh), with only 26 wickets at 43.73 from 11 Tests. Steyn, with 17 wickets at 30.23 in four games in similar conditions, will lead the attack. Kepler Wessels, the former South African captain, had picked Steyn as the man to watch out for in the series against India. "He keeps the ball up and swings it at pace . That has helped him to do well in the subcontinent."

Smith was confident that his batsmen would do the job for him. "We also have good batters in the top six positions." Smith will pair up with Neil McKenzie, with whom he shared a world-record opening stand of 415 against Bangladesh in the Chittagong Test, while the middle order will be led by the formidable Jacques Kallis.

Smith was also hopeful that his team would overcome the selection controversies and perform well in the series. "It is a bit disappointing. We feel for the players and have spoken to them. It affects the team certainly. But we are mature enough and our job is to continue with the game." Andre Nel was left out of the tour to accommodate Charl Langeveldt and conform to the board's transformation policy that requires six players of colour to be picked in a squad of 14. Langeveldt himself pulled out of the squad, saying he did not want to be selected on the basis of his colour.

The winner of the India-South Africa series will take the second spot in the official Test rankings, behind Australia.

© Cricinfo

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