It’s the pacers versus Sehwag, says Morkel
December 15th, 2010 - 3:27 pm ICT by IANS
Centurion, Dec 15 (IANS) Stopping the initial onslaught of destructive opener Virender Sehwag would be the key element of the home team’s pace attack against India in the cricket Test series starting here Thursday, according to South African fast bowler Morne Morkel.Morkel, who will pair up with world’s top-ranked bowler Dale Steyn in the first Test, said Sehwag’s wicket early in the innings would be vital to their chances.
“Sehwag is very dangerous when he goes on the charge upfront, he can be very destructive against the new ball. I am looking forward to the contest and the first five overs with the new ball will be vital because that is when you still get good bounce,” Morkel told reporters Tuesday.
“If we can strike early with the new ball and get their middle order in quickly, then maybe we can bowl India out cheaply. It is obvious you do not want Sehwag to get a flying start and Gautam Gambhir was ranked the top in the world not that long ago.”
Batsman Ashwell Prince said he is looking forward to the challenge of playing the number one Test side.
“The weather forecast is not great and as long as there is rain about, there will be a lot of moisture and I will expect the pitch to do a bit, with movement off the seam. But when the sun comes out, it is always a good track to bat on,” he said.
Prince averages an impressive 67 here with three centuries.
“I want to make contributions when the going is tough, but you are not always going to perform in those sort of conditions. It is more important for the team to take 20 wickets than the batsmen to fill their boots. It is important that the conditions support the bowlers too,” Prince said.
The visitors play three Tests and five One-day Internationals during their South Africa tour.
- Time India stamped their supremacy in world cricket - Dec 15, 2010
- India in dire straits against South Africa (Lead) - Dec 17, 2010
- Zaheer's return to boost India's chances in Durban Test (Preview) - Dec 25, 2010
- Zaheer, Harbhajan fightback; batsmen squander advantage in Durban - Dec 27, 2010
- Pace bowler Morkel ready to spice it up for India - Dec 15, 2010
- India bounce back at Durban to level series (Lead) - Dec 29, 2010
- Steyn strike leave India at 74 for two (Lunch report) - Dec 26, 2010
- Steyn's 4-36 reduces India to 168/6 (Tea report) - Dec 26, 2010
- Zaheer, Harbhajan peg India back into reckoning (Tea report) - Dec 27, 2010
- Third Test heading towards a draw (Tea report) - Jan 06, 2011
- Gambhir helps India secure a draw in third Test, India level series (Roundup) - Jan 07, 2011
- Tim Bresnan looking forward to new challenge - Oct 05, 2011
- India suffer early setbacks on day one of first Test (Lead) - Jun 21, 2011
- India, Proteas in series face-off on batsman, spin friendly Cape Town pitch - Jan 01, 2011
- India three wickets away from victory in Durban Test (Lunch report) - Dec 29, 2010
Tags: ashwell prince, bowlers, centurion, cricket test, dale steyn, day internationals, first test, gautam gambhir, initial onslaught, pace attack, pacers, play three, seam, sehwag, south africa tour, test series, test side, weather forecast, wicket, wickets