South African fast bowlers Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi have started preparations for the Boxing Day Test match against India. South Africa head coach Shukri Conrad hoped that India would fail to win the ‘final frontier’ of their Test campaign. Rabada was rested from the limited overs series against India due to a heel injury. Ngidi was ruled out of the T20 International due to a left ankle injury.
Rabada and Ngidi were practicing vigorously at the team’s net session at the SuperSport Park ground on Saturday afternoon. Where he was facing veteran batsman Dean Elgar. Elgar announced his retirement after this series.
Centurion’s pitch is suited to fast bowlers but India did better than South Africa at this stadium in the last tour. Conrad said his main fast bowlers will be fresh and bowl with full strength.
“They (Rabada and Ngidi) will be fresh and aggressive,” he said on the first day of the team’s practice session. I always believe in players who stay fresh.” Both the veteran bowlers will enter this match without any match practice but the coach is not too worried about that.
He said it would have been better if he had got a chance to play domestic matches, but that’s life. Everyone has to find a way. I am not worried that they will play against India without match practice.
The coach said, “KG (Rabada) and Lungi are in the 15-man squad and are available for selection. We will decide on the selection tomorrow. Hopefully, tomorrow morning we will have a full squad of 15 to choose from.
Conrad, a former first-class player, does not have extensive experience in international cricket, but is the front-runner to become South Africa’s full-time coach. The 56-year-old coach knows this
India have never won a Test series in South Africa in eight attempts since 1992.
This is the first time that India is playing a series of only two Test matches. “We definitely want to maintain that glorious record and make sure that India don’t manage to win,” he said.
Conrad said, “This is the biggest series of the year for South Africa. India ‘has reached the final frontier but we will do our best to ensure that they do not succeed.’ Only South Africa’s Virat Kohli is the top Indian batsman in the over 31-year Test history between the two countries. The average is 50 in Test matches in three tours and this figure is not hidden from Konrad.
He said, “Kohli is the best batsman in the world right now. Needless to say, Virat’s wicket will be the most valuable wherever he plays in the world.” The coach said, “Apart from Kohli, India also have a great batting lineup. There are great players like Rohit Sharma, youngster Shubman Gill but we have a great bowling lineup.