Wessels think that SA will be ill-prepared for Aussie tour

Kepler worried about Proteas
2008-11-12 06:


Johannesburg. – South Africa could pay a heavy price for their lack of decent preparation for the forthcoming cricket tour of Australia.

That is the opinion of Kepler Wessels, a former captain of South Africa that also played for Australia and knows the conditions there particularly well.

Wessels said that it is far from ideal for South Africa to only play in series’ against Kenya and Bangladesh before taking on the Aussies.

“Even if Australia lost the series in India, they at least played some of the toughest cricket possible and will be sharp when South Africa arrive,” he said.

He also does not believe it’s a good thing that several key players will be involved in a Twenty20 tournament in India scarcely a week before the tour of Australia.

“Something that really concerns me from a South African point of view is that batsmen like AB de Villiers and Hashim Amla will one moment bat on the low, slow pitches in India and then in Perth on one that generates the most pace and bounce in the world,” said Wessels.

“I really don’t believe that the national players of the Titans and Dolphins should have been allowed to go to India first.

“Australian pitches are some of the most difficult for batsmen to get used to.

“That is why I believe one warm-up game against West Australia before the first Test is not enough.”

He also believes that even though scars were left by the defeat to India, the Aussies will be motivated to do well against South Africa.

“They will be a different side at home. I believe South Africa can win the series, but it definitely won’t be easy,” said Wessels.

Australia also play a home series against New Zealand over the next few weeks. It offers an ideal opportunity for preparation.

South Africa play against Bangladesh for the rest of the month.

Wessels added he would not be coaching the Chennai Super Kings in next month’s Champions League in India.

'Empty' making expected noises.

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*Buckaroo* wrote:

Batman wrote:
SA can push us to number 3 if they beat Aussies. Or we will be at 3 if we can't beat England at home by next month.

well the musclebound SA are talking tough at the moment. they have back to back
series against Aus iirc.

remains to be seen if they deliver the next hammer blow or fade away after a
resounding beating. too often they have the swagger and biceps but not
the cunning and craft.

Wessels is a knob.

No one takes him seriously.

The pre=emptive bleat. Without it, a tour just hasn't started.....

Cash for comment.

Red wrote:Wessels added he would not be coaching the Chennai Super Kings in next month’s Champions League in India.

Well there was some sense in the article.

Wessels just trying to make sure he's unpopular in South Africa before his son starts playing for England.

Will England blood Wessels soon? Maybe he should be called capillaries . . .

Don't see where Aus will have a better edge over SA in terms of pre-series preparations? SA will be beating the Bangars and Aussies the Kiwis. Where's the advantage?

SA is going to struggle in the ODI's but in Tests they're quite capable of an upset or 2.

tac wrote:Will England blood Wessels soon? Maybe he should be called capillaries . . .

Kapillaries?

Zat wrote:Wessels just trying to make sure he's unpopular in South Africa before his son starts playing for England.

Rikki's down the pecking order:

Prior
Ambrose
Foster
Davies
Mustard

In that order I reckon