Short-ball will not bother us, says Dhoni

CENTURION - Indian cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni has countered South African threats of preparing bouncy tracks by asserting that his team is well-equipped to face the short stuff.

After India’s first nets session at the SuperSport Park Monday, Dhoni said his team is in good form and they are not thinking about India’s past record in South Africa.

“We are so used to that question - about how we will handle it when we are bombarded with short balls,” Dhoni said.

“The answer is that it will not bother us. Most of our batsmen have recently played quite a lot in South Africa and are much more familiar with conditions than was the case in the past.”

“That is why we do not pay attention to what history says about what happened here in the past. We do not think too much about the statistics,” said Dhoni.

Currently the top Test team in the world, India have won just one of the 12 Tests in South Africa and will be looking to clinch their first Test series here.

The Indian captain, however, said they are expecting the South African pace attack to focus more on the short-pitch stuff.

“It is not something which we are not expecting. It is after all how South Africa have achieved success against us in the past.”

“It will be important for us to adapt to the conditions.”

“Yet I believe we will be better prepared than before, because the guys have played here in the Indian Premier League and in the Champions League and it is not that foreign to them,” he said.

“The most important thing is to remain focused and well prepared for what awaits us.”

Dhoni was all praise for coach Gary Kirsten and said his knowledge of the local conditions will certainly benefit the team.

“Gary Kirsten is the best thing that could have happened to Indian cricket.

“He not only knows our players but also understands the mindset of the South Africans and that insight will be important,” he said.