'We have to be patient' - Wright
The thinking behind three spinners It was not an easy call but Sourav [Ganguly] felt that was best way to get the 20 wickets
Nagraj Gollapudi
20-Nov-2004
After remaining tight-lipped about the bowling combination until the last minute, before helping select three spinners, John Wright, the India coach, spoke to the press at the end of the first day in which only four South African wickets fell :
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The thinking behind three spinners
It was not an easy call but Sourav [Ganguly] felt that was best way to get the 20 wickets. We need to take wickets early tomorrow.
It was not an easy call but Sourav [Ganguly] felt that was best way to get the 20 wickets. We need to take wickets early tomorrow.
On the what challenge is
We have to be patient. The wicket is bit slower and some of the boys mentioned that they can beat them in the flight but can't make much use of the bounce.
We have to be patient. The wicket is bit slower and some of the boys mentioned that they can beat them in the flight but can't make much use of the bounce.
Why Irfan Pathan was left out
Irfan has been out for a bit through injury and Zaheer [Khan] has bowled pretty well this year. He [Zaheer] has got a bit more pace, he's been reversing ball the well and was the pick of the two based in the ODI against Pakistan last week.
Irfan has been out for a bit through injury and Zaheer [Khan] has bowled pretty well this year. He [Zaheer] has got a bit more pace, he's been reversing ball the well and was the pick of the two based in the ODI against Pakistan last week.
The way South Africa played...
Their application stood out today - they showed a lot of determination. We're going to have to work particularly hard on this pitch which is on the slower side.
Their application stood out today - they showed a lot of determination. We're going to have to work particularly hard on this pitch which is on the slower side.
...and his own charges
I was pleased with the way we stuck at it throughout the day; would have been nice to get a wicket in the final session.
I was pleased with the way we stuck at it throughout the day; would have been nice to get a wicket in the final session.
Nagraj Gollapudi is sub editor of Wisden Asia Cricket magazine