The extra bounce will provide a decent change but bowling with the red Kookaburra ball “will be a challenge” in the three-match Test series against South Africa, feels India pacer, Bhuvneshwar Kumar.
After a two-shift opening practice session on Saturday, Team Indipracticeded indoors on Sunday due to wet and windy conditions at the Western Province Cricket Club (WPCC). The Indian pacers’ focus as of now has been on bowling multiple long spells, which they will need to bowl in the series starting with the first Test at Newlands from January 5.
During a media interaction, Kumar said, “The first thing that comes to the mind when you are touring South Africa is bouncy wickets. But that is no surety of what kind of pitch you would get in the game. When it comes to batsmen there is the bounce factor. But that is a factor for the bowlers too. The Kookaburra is the toughest ball to bowl with. It does not do too much after 25-30 overs, so these are the kind of situations we are trying to prepare for.”
The swing-king of India reckons that the Indian pacers have not yet gotten down to strategizing for the game and the focus is on bowling long spells. He said, “We have not talked so far about the strategy. The focus is on the basics. Maybe a couple of days before the first Test, we will see how to strategize according to the batsman. Yesterday, we did two sessions to get into the Test mode. It is a six-hour day in a Test match so we bowled twice. We wanted to bowl as long as possible.”
Team India is yet to win a Test series in South Africa but has been playing well over the last couple of years, reclaiming the number one ranking in the process. Bhuvneshwar feels the current form give his team a good chance of improving its record in South Africa.
Talking about the same, Bhuvneshwar said, “Everyone is confident. We know there is a chance to win a series in South Africa but to be able to do that we know we have to give our best. We have done well in the last two years and we are confident of doing well in these conditions. Yes, we can pick few a things from each other. I can pick reverse swing from Umesh, Ishant and Shami and they can pick swing from me.”
He further added, “First big change is the bounce. I won’t say swing so much but bounce is something every fast bowler enjoys.”
When asked about the batting of South Africa, Kumar said, “Anyone (could be a threat). All their batsmen are doing well. For us, it is all about how we do against their batsmen.”
