Proteas coach tells Windies how to win against Aussies at Perth
By ANITuesday, December 15, 2009
PERTH - South African cricket coach Mickey Arthur, whose team scored a historic Test victory in Perth last year, has advised West Indies quicks to do exactly the opposite of what their hearts are telling them to do.
Arthur insists that bowling short is not the answer to trumping Ricky Ponting’s men at the WACA.
Ponting looked perplexed yesterday as he inspected the re-laid Test strip - which has never before been used in first-class cricket.
According to the Daily Telegraph, Windies pacer Kemar Roach is planning a blood-and-thunder assault, but Arthur has warned about the perils of being seduced by the bouncy pitch.
“A lot of teams come to Perth and think they should be bowling short … they will be absolutely murdered by Australia if they try that,” Arthur told The Daily Telegraph from South Africa.
“We found the best way to bowl here is actually to bowl a much fuller length than you would in other places. Then you can just let the natural bounce of the pitch work in your favour.
“All batsmen like to score quickly in Perth but if you bowl a full length it cuts down the scoring opportunities for batsmen. You just have to be patient and build a lot of pressure in that way.”
WACA curator Cameron Sutherland is using a pitch which was re- laid after the 2007-08 season and has only been used in two domestic Twenty20 matches.
After Ponting complained about a lifeless track in last year’s loss to South Africa, Sutherland is confident this year’s pitch will have more zest.
“All indications are it should have more pace than last year,” he said.
Arthur believes patient bowling tactics could work especially well against struggling Australian batsman Mike Hussey.
“The key to it is you have to keep Mike Hussey under pressure and not let him score,” Arthur said.
“He is a guy that really likes feeling bat on ball.” (ANI)
