Indian cricket tour, a hot job, opines South African bowling coach

NAGPUR - Vincent Barnes, the bowling coach of South African cricket team contended that although the Indian tour is hectic, the players are a focussed lot.

Addressing a news conference after the draw of the stumps on the first day of the two-day practice match against India’s Board President’s XI here on Tuesday, Barnes said: “We are quite focussed. We have come here and it is a big job ahead for us…playing against the number one team in the world. We knew that coming Test would be a big job, all the management and we have spoken in-length about it. We come here to do a job and that is what we have to do. It is no exception to any other tour and it is going to be a hot job.”

He also hinted to include two spinners in the first Test against India commencing on February 6 at Nagpur.

“It is good to get two spinners in our team that to me is the most important…because the Test is coming up and we know that we have to step it up and we would definitely step it up once the Test started,” he added.

The first Test starts in Nagpur on Saturday (February 6) after South Africa opened their tour with a two-day match against a Board President’s XI.

India displaced South Africa as world number one in December after securing a 2-0 series victory over Sri Lanka.

South Africa had come close to winning a series in India two years ago when they took a 1-0 lead before the home side squared the three-match series on an unpredictable pitch of Green Park in Kanpur. (ANI)