Corrie heaps praise on Proteas

Nagpur - Proteas cricket coach Corrie van Zyl, on Wednesday praised his squad for their professionalism when he reflected on his first match in charge of the Castle Test squad.

The Proteas on Tuesday beat top ranked India by an innings and six runs with more than a day to spare. It was a first defeat for in 12 matches for home captain MS Dhoni.

Van Zyl took over at very short notice after Mickey Arthur had resigned and also only had five days of preparation once the squad arrived in India.

"My main concern was not the sudden change in the senior team management as I knew most of the players and management well, but rather to adapt to Indian conditions in the limited amount of time we had to do so," commented Van Zyl.

"We now need to be just as well prepared for the second Test match. The first Test was a challenge - the second is going to be an even bigger challenge."

Van Zyl is keeping an open mind on the playing surface that will be prepared for Sunday's second Test at Eden Gardens and wants to concentrate rather on what his own team is planning to do, than worrying about India's intentions.

"We will see when we get there but I am expecting conditions that will assist the Indian team."

Van Zyl said he felt the team was mentally much tougher than when they lost the final Test on an under-prepared pitch at Kanpur two years ago, having since gone through defining away tours to England and Australia.

"Mentally the team is better prepared," he said.

"That is the important part. I have been very impressed with the level of professionalism both from the players and the team management."

Van Zyl has understandably been as impressed as anybody by the form of Dale Steyn, but he resisted the temptation to compare him with South Africa's other top bowlers.

"Dale is number one at the moment and he is there for obvious reasons. To run in and bowl at that pace and swing the ball away is a special gift and then his ability to reverse the ball as he did in the Test, makes him even more special.

"I don't like to make comparisons, but he is a very good bowler in his own right."