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Cape Town - Former South African opening batsman Jimmy Cook believes the Proteas will find a way to cope with the vicious fast bowling of Australia's Mitchell Johnson.
Johnson produced match figures of 12/127 as Australia won the first Test by 282 runs in Centurion over the weekend.
He clearly had South Africa's batsmen rattled, often producing thunder-bolts of 150km/h. Hashim Amla was hit on the visor of his helmet, while Ryan McLaren was hit so badly on the head that he was ruled out of the second Test due to concussion. Openers Graeme Smith and Alviro Petersen also looked uncomfortable taking first strike against Johnson.
However, Cook feels the world's No 1 team will be ready by the time the second Test starts in Port Elizabeth on Thursday.
"I'm sure we'll get things right. We have quality players in the team. I believe we'll work something out (to counter Johnson) and get through it," Cook told the Volksblad website.
Cook said teams like India and Pakistan use several different methods when they visit South Africa's fast pitches.
Using bowling machines at different angles and hitting tennis balls with racquets at batsmen are some of the methods Cook mentioned.
During his playing days - when he faced quick West Indian bowlers like Ezra Moseley, Sylvester Clarke, Colin Croft and Franklyn Stephenson - Cook said each batsman normally planned in his own way how to deal with the pace.
"There wasn't really a specific plan - about whether or not we'll rather leave the balls behind. We did talk about it but each player sort of had his own plan against it. One approach was to be more aggressive against their short balls," said Cook.
Johnson produced match figures of 12/127 as Australia won the first Test by 282 runs in Centurion over the weekend.
He clearly had South Africa's batsmen rattled, often producing thunder-bolts of 150km/h. Hashim Amla was hit on the visor of his helmet, while Ryan McLaren was hit so badly on the head that he was ruled out of the second Test due to concussion. Openers Graeme Smith and Alviro Petersen also looked uncomfortable taking first strike against Johnson.
However, Cook feels the world's No 1 team will be ready by the time the second Test starts in Port Elizabeth on Thursday.
"I'm sure we'll get things right. We have quality players in the team. I believe we'll work something out (to counter Johnson) and get through it," Cook told the Volksblad website.
Cook said teams like India and Pakistan use several different methods when they visit South Africa's fast pitches.
Using bowling machines at different angles and hitting tennis balls with racquets at batsmen are some of the methods Cook mentioned.
During his playing days - when he faced quick West Indian bowlers like Ezra Moseley, Sylvester Clarke, Colin Croft and Franklyn Stephenson - Cook said each batsman normally planned in his own way how to deal with the pace.
"There wasn't really a specific plan - about whether or not we'll rather leave the balls behind. We did talk about it but each player sort of had his own plan against it. One approach was to be more aggressive against their short balls," said Cook.
