Thaindian News

Durban, Dec 24 (IANS) South African captain Graeme Smith said Friday the grassy top at the Kingsmead Stadium will help his fast bowlers Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel in the Boxing Day Test against India starting Sunday. “I’m a bit scared to pronounce on a pitch three days shy of a Test match, but the track has a good grass covering throughout, certainly the best I’ve seen in Durban for a while which is good to see. It’s been a bit patchy over the last few Tests,” said Smith

“We’ll see how things develop with the weather and everything over the next couple of days, but hopefully the pitch will have good carry and bounce, that’s all we’re asking for.”

Smith is concerned with South Africa’s poor record at the Kingsmead, where they lost their last two Tests against Australia and England.

“We haven’t been at our best in our last two matches here, so it’s up to us to put that right now. We’ve had a good chat over how to play at our best here, and we have the players with the experience who know what it takes to do well here,” he said.

But Smith feels that the team is confident after their innings win over India in the first Test at Centurion.

“When you win by an innings, you take many positive things from the game, as well as more confidence. I think we’ve taken a few steps up from that game and perhaps given India a few doubts. In saying that the game will start again on Boxing Day and we’ve got to be prepared,” he said.

Smith, however, said that the Kingsmead wicket, which used to be the fastest in the country, has changed its nature in the last few years.

“The pitch has spun a bit more, taken more reverse swing and gone very flat in the middle period of matches. From what I’ve seen today, I can only hope it will get back to what it was when I first started playing here,” he said.