'Forget the run-rate' - Smith
Andrew Hall is mostly remembered either for his valiant 99 at Headingley in 2003 or for surviving a shooting from point-blank range
Nagraj Gollapudi
20-Nov-2004
Andrew Hall is mostly remembered either for his valiant 99 at Headingley in 2003 or for surviving a shooting from point-blank range. But at Green Park today he displayed buckets of patience to put South Africa in a strong position. His captain Graeme Smith summed up Hall's innings and the day's play:
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On Andrew Hall as his opening partner
We thought we would go in a different partner, someone whom they wouldn't expect and he [Hall] had already batted in the top order in one-day [cricket]. He has played a really good knock - he's been patient and stroked the ball well. We took a risk but it's paid off.
We thought we would go in a different partner, someone whom they wouldn't expect and he [Hall] had already batted in the top order in one-day [cricket]. He has played a really good knock - he's been patient and stroked the ball well. We took a risk but it's paid off.
What he felt generally
I'm happy; the guys have had a solid day. Forget the run-rate as the runs haven't been scored that quickly [in the past] at this venue. [But] there were a couple of soft dismissals in the last two sessions.
I'm happy; the guys have had a solid day. Forget the run-rate as the runs haven't been scored that quickly [in the past] at this venue. [But] there were a couple of soft dismissals in the last two sessions.
How pitch plays
There was [either] moisture early in the morning or there was a lot of overnight dew, but the wicket played pretty well all day.
There was [either] moisture early in the morning or there was a lot of overnight dew, but the wicket played pretty well all day.
On wining the toss
It was a good toss [for us] to win. We knew that they wanted to win the toss and bat first considering they were going in with three spinners.
It was a good toss [for us] to win. We knew that they wanted to win the toss and bat first considering they were going in with three spinners.
Team selection
We thought about the batting order first and we needed a batter at seven, which Zan der Bruyn can do and [he can] also provide a lot of overs. With Jacques [Kallis] carrying a side strain, we are not too sure how much we'll get from him with the ball, so it was important that we carried that extra bowler.
We thought about the batting order first and we needed a batter at seven, which Zan der Bruyn can do and [he can] also provide a lot of overs. With Jacques [Kallis] carrying a side strain, we are not too sure how much we'll get from him with the ball, so it was important that we carried that extra bowler.
And Hashim Amla
At this stage, he's purely a batter - at three or six - and we saw him more as an allrounder in India.
At this stage, he's purely a batter - at three or six - and we saw him more as an allrounder in India.
On the Indian spinners
All of them bowled tightly, bowled with a lot of pressure.
All of them bowled tightly, bowled with a lot of pressure.
Nagraj Gollapudi is sub editor of Wisden Asia Cricket magazine