We know a big knock from Hashim Amla is round the corner: South Africa coach Russell Domingo
Hashim Amla was dismissed for 1 by Board President’s XI medium pacer Shardul Thakur on morning, caught edging to the slip cordon. (Source: PTI)
South Africa coach Russell Domingo did not sound too worried about the indifferent form shown so far on the tour by Test captain Hashim Amla, even if the opening Test of the four-match contest is just round the corner.
“Amla is a quality player. We know a big knock from him is round the corner. He’s batting well in the nets,” said Domingo in his post-match press conference at the Brabourne Stadium after the drawn two-day practice encounter against Indian cricket Board President’s XI.
Amla was dismissed for 1 by Board President’s XI medium pacer Shardul Thakur on morning, caught edging to the slip cordon.
Amla, who has scored 6770 runs in 84 Tests with 23 hundreds to his credit – four of which had been made in six previous matches in India – and having a healthy career average of 52-plus, has had a poor run on this tour that started with the T20 series against the hosts.
His sequence of scores have been 36 and 21 in the completed T20 Internationals, 37, 17, 5, 7 and 23 in the five ODIs followed by his lowest score on Saturday.
South Africa’s best batsman and in-form ODI captain, AB de Villiers, on Saturday scored a superb 112 off 131 balls with 18 hits to the fence, and Domingo said he was easing back into the Test mindset after missing the tour to Bangladesh.
“AB (de Villiers) last played a Test match in January against the West Indies and missed the Bangladesh tour. That’s why he was leaving a few balls (without attacking them),” said Domingo about de Villiers’ ton, his fourth on the tour after his triple in the 3-2 ODI series victory.
On the composition of the team’s spin attack in the first Test starting at Mohali next week, Domingo said it will depend on the conditions of the pitch laid out for the game.
“We have been hearing about a spin-friendly surface being prepared. We will look at the conditions and then decide. There are a few options. Imran Tahir is an attacking option as he’s an aggressive bowler,” he said.
On the injury status of fast bowler Morne Morkel, who bowled only five overs without conceding a run here, the visiting team’s coach said there would be a fitness test for the lanky bowler “closer to the commencement of the Test match”.
On Jean Paul Duminy, the coach said that the batting all-rounder was scheduled to have the stitches taken out of the webbing of his right hand next week.
“The stitches would be removed next week, but the hand would be a bit tender,” he said, hinting that Duminy may not be fit to play the game.
The coach was happy with the way wicket-keeper Dane Vilas, who was not part of the limited overs squad, batted on Saturday in the company of de Villiers and put on a century stand for the seventh wicket while making 58 in 108 minutes, studded with seven fours.
“Dane Vilas was very good. He had kept well in Bangladesh too. He’s a good player of spin,” said Domingo.
He expected India to come hard at the visitors after losing both the T20 and ODI series against South Africa.
“They are a formidable side in their conditions. They must be hurting at the defeats in T20 and ODI series. We know they are going to be a tough challenge,” he said.
