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Johannesburg - Proteas captain, AB de Villiers, is confident his players have the skill to counter India’s big-hitters in the ODI series starting at the Wanderers Stadium on Thursday.
The No.1 ranked India are coming off a couple of high-scoring series against Australia and the West Indies at home, but De Villiers feels the visitors will face a different challenge in South African conditions.
“I think their strength lies in their batting,” De Villiers conceded.
“The kind of scores they have posted in the last while have been big.
"All the batters seem to be in good form so that is their strength.
“I feel that we have the skill in our home country to counter that,” he said.
“Our plan will be to get wickets upfront.”
De Villiers and coach, Russell Domingo, will finalise the playing XI after a final look at the wicket on Thursday morning, and could tinker with combinations depending on the conditions.
“ I had a look at the wicket,” De Villiers said.
“There is a lot of grass on, I don’t think it has seen a lot of sun yet. I think it will play the same throughout the 100 overs.
“We are still playing around with a combination that I wouldn’t like to mention here,” he added.
“Other than that it will be more or less the same side that played against Pakistan, maybe one change after we have had a look at the wicket.”
The Proteas' batsman will have gained some confidence following the Proteas’ successful run-chase against Pakistan on Saturday, and seem to have found some momentum and tactical confidence when chasing totals.
The average score for a day-night match at the Wanderers is 222, with the historic 438 match being the highest total to be scored at the ground.
The Proteas scored more than 300 in their last match against Pakistan in March, a match which was also played in pink, a “good sign” De Villiers quipped ahead of the second annual Pink Day.
“’Its important for us to keep playing good cricket,” De Villiers said.
“Our record has been alright, we have won five out of the last eight matches.
“It’s not a worry that we haven’t gone past 300 recently,” he continued.
“I honestly believe that we haven’t played on those type of wickets that allow you to do so, our opposition was also unable to do that.
"We will get our opportunity when there is a good ground and wicket to play on.
"We have the players and the skill to do so.”
The No.1 ranked India are coming off a couple of high-scoring series against Australia and the West Indies at home, but De Villiers feels the visitors will face a different challenge in South African conditions.
“I think their strength lies in their batting,” De Villiers conceded.
“The kind of scores they have posted in the last while have been big.
"All the batters seem to be in good form so that is their strength.
“I feel that we have the skill in our home country to counter that,” he said.
“Our plan will be to get wickets upfront.”
De Villiers and coach, Russell Domingo, will finalise the playing XI after a final look at the wicket on Thursday morning, and could tinker with combinations depending on the conditions.
“ I had a look at the wicket,” De Villiers said.
“There is a lot of grass on, I don’t think it has seen a lot of sun yet. I think it will play the same throughout the 100 overs.
“We are still playing around with a combination that I wouldn’t like to mention here,” he added.
“Other than that it will be more or less the same side that played against Pakistan, maybe one change after we have had a look at the wicket.”
The Proteas' batsman will have gained some confidence following the Proteas’ successful run-chase against Pakistan on Saturday, and seem to have found some momentum and tactical confidence when chasing totals.
The average score for a day-night match at the Wanderers is 222, with the historic 438 match being the highest total to be scored at the ground.
The Proteas scored more than 300 in their last match against Pakistan in March, a match which was also played in pink, a “good sign” De Villiers quipped ahead of the second annual Pink Day.
“’Its important for us to keep playing good cricket,” De Villiers said.
“Our record has been alright, we have won five out of the last eight matches.
“It’s not a worry that we haven’t gone past 300 recently,” he continued.
“I honestly believe that we haven’t played on those type of wickets that allow you to do so, our opposition was also unable to do that.
"We will get our opportunity when there is a good ground and wicket to play on.
"We have the players and the skill to do so.”
