Cronje wary of team's chances in India

The South African team arrived in Mumbai in the wee hours of Thursday morning and had to wait for their baggage for over two hours. The South African captain Hansie Cronje later at a press conference at Taj Mahal hotel admitted that playing India in India is certainly tough and every player wants to win the series. However he was guarded about the team's chances.

Cronje said he knew what pitches to expect as he was here earlier in 1996, when the South Africans lost the Test series 2-1. He added that ``over the years we have learned a lot and are a stronger, confident and experienced side now.'' He said that this team was stronger than the one that toured in 1996, since it was a more balanced team having allrounders like Shaun Pollock, Jacques Kallis and Lance Klusner, fine batsmen in HH Gibbs and Gary Kirsten who have performing consistently over the years and Allan Donald who is here on a mission - to get 300 Test wickets.

The 30-year-old allrounder said the South Africans have done their home work and have followed the disastrous Indian tour to Australia. ``To get 20 wickets in every Test match is going to be hard, particularly after Paul Adams dropped out.'' He however was hopeful that Nicky Boje and Clive Eksteen would deliver the goods. He added that he was not underestimating the Indians and felt that India missed the experience of Md. Azharuddin and Ajay Jadeja in Australia.

Earlier, South African speed star Allan Donald said his side can beat India in spite of its formidable reputation on home soil. He said this in Johannesburg just before the team's departure. He added that the South Africans have a well-balanced side and its professionalism would help topple India. Donald who needs ten wickets to complete 300 Test wickets will play only in the two Test matches and will skip the five one-dayers that follow.

The South Africans begin their tour on February 19 where they play against Board President's XI in Mumbai. The two Test matches are to be played in Mumbai and Bangalore.