Altus Momberg
Cape Town – The Indian cricket team would be well advised to prepare for a pace attack in the upcoming Test series.
Andrew Hudson, convenor of the Proteas selectors, said on Wednesday they would concentrate on South Africa's strong points when they announce the Test group for the series.
"We will probably select only one spin bowler and depend on South Africa's traditional strong point, their pace attack," said Hudson.
India's batsmen are their strong point, but there is still the view in South African cricket that they are vulnerable to bouncers. This will be tested this summer. Dale Steyn and Morné Morkel are extremely dangerous in South African conditions.
The Proteas' planned tactic is definitely no secret and that is perhaps one of the reasons why Gary Kirsten, India's coach and ten members of his group – including the captain, Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Sachin Tendulkar, have arrived in Cape Town to get used to the South African conditions.
The rest of the group are still taking part in the one-day series against New Zealand and will only arrive in Johannesburg on December 12.
The South African selectors met on Wednesday afternoon but no surprises are expected for the series which begins with the first Test on December 16 at Centurion.
The six batsmen who played in the last two Tests last month against Pakistan in the Middle East, will again be in the team, with JP Duminy as the additional batsman in the group of 13 players.
Johan Botha, who played as the second spinner against Pakistan, may lose his place in the group, with Ryan McLaren or Vernon Philander chosen as the additional seam bowler.
Lonwabo Tsotsobe may make his return to the Test group as the third member of the seam attack along with Steyn and Morkel.
Philander last played for the national team in 2008 in England and didn't impress in that one-day series. But he has worked very hard over the past two years and has impressed with his bowling in first-class cricket.
Hudson also confirmed that Imran Tahir will not be considered for the series against India. Tahir, a Pakistani who has been living in South Africa since last year, could qualify at the end of the month to play for South Africa.
Hudson has said that they will announce a group for all three Tests and they don't yet know when Tahir's paperwork will be in order for him to play for the Proteas.
Cape Town – The Indian cricket team would be well advised to prepare for a pace attack in the upcoming Test series.
Andrew Hudson, convenor of the Proteas selectors, said on Wednesday they would concentrate on South Africa's strong points when they announce the Test group for the series.
"We will probably select only one spin bowler and depend on South Africa's traditional strong point, their pace attack," said Hudson.
India's batsmen are their strong point, but there is still the view in South African cricket that they are vulnerable to bouncers. This will be tested this summer. Dale Steyn and Morné Morkel are extremely dangerous in South African conditions.
The Proteas' planned tactic is definitely no secret and that is perhaps one of the reasons why Gary Kirsten, India's coach and ten members of his group – including the captain, Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Sachin Tendulkar, have arrived in Cape Town to get used to the South African conditions.
The rest of the group are still taking part in the one-day series against New Zealand and will only arrive in Johannesburg on December 12.
The South African selectors met on Wednesday afternoon but no surprises are expected for the series which begins with the first Test on December 16 at Centurion.
The six batsmen who played in the last two Tests last month against Pakistan in the Middle East, will again be in the team, with JP Duminy as the additional batsman in the group of 13 players.
Johan Botha, who played as the second spinner against Pakistan, may lose his place in the group, with Ryan McLaren or Vernon Philander chosen as the additional seam bowler.
Lonwabo Tsotsobe may make his return to the Test group as the third member of the seam attack along with Steyn and Morkel.
Philander last played for the national team in 2008 in England and didn't impress in that one-day series. But he has worked very hard over the past two years and has impressed with his bowling in first-class cricket.
Hudson also confirmed that Imran Tahir will not be considered for the series against India. Tahir, a Pakistani who has been living in South Africa since last year, could qualify at the end of the month to play for South Africa.
Hudson has said that they will announce a group for all three Tests and they don't yet know when Tahir's paperwork will be in order for him to play for the Proteas.