Australia in SA
Khan raring to go
2009-03-16 11:47
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Altus Momberg - Die Burger
Cape Town - Imraan Khan has already scored a century against Australia this year. However, he does not expect it to be a simple task to open the batting against Australia from Thursday at Newlands.
“It is true that I struck a century in the warm-up game, but I don’t think they bowled with the sane intensity in that game as they did in the test series,” Khan said on Sunday.
Khan struck 100 off only 111 deliveries for a President’s XI in Potchefstroom at the beginning of the tour. That included the bowling attack of Australia’s big three of Mitchell Johnson, Peter Siddle and Ben Hilfenhaus.
Khan could not ask for a better time to make his debut. He is on song like never before in his career. The South African selectors surprised by picking two new batsmen – Khan and Ashwell Prince – for the last test against Australia.
Graeme Smith is struggling with a broken finger, while the selectors have axed Neil McKenzie. The selectors will be happy after both new men posted massive innings’ in the SuperSport Series.
Prince scored 254 against the Titans in Centurion to show that he is ready for his challenge, while Khan struck 145 against the Cape Cobras in Pietermaritzburg. It was his seventh first-class century, of which five were achieved this year.
“The more first-class cricket you play, the more comfortable you get,” said Khan.
“I also worked very hard at my technique in the off-season. I focused on being more disciplined.”
Khan was the captain in 2003 of an outstanding under-19 team that included AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Vernon Philander, Faf du Plessis and Daryn Smit.
The left-hander will also have the opportunity of batting with old school friend Hashim Amla. “We have been playing together since I was 12. We played for the same high school, DHS (Durban High School), and also in KwaZulu-Natal’s under-13, under-15 and under-19 teams,” said Khan.
DHS also produced cricketing stars such as Lance Klusener and Barry Richards.
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