Cape Town: The ignored trio of KL Rahul, Ajinkya Rahane and Ishant Sharma were part of an optional practice session at the Newlands here Tuesday, even as South Africa coach Ottis Gibson warned they would continue to torment India with pace.
Parthiv Patel was also part of the small training group. Assistant coach Sanjay Bangar and bowling coach Bharat Arun were part of the support team that assisted them through the session lasting just under 90 minutes.
There has been a lot of debate over India’s team selection in the first Test. Certainly, South African skipper Faf du Plessis had expressed surprise at the omission of both Rahane and Ishant, with Rohit Sharma (21 runs in two innings) and Jasprit Bumrah (4-112 in two innings) playing instead. It now remains to be seen whether, the Indians will ring in changes when the second Test gets underway January 13, at the Centurion.
Meanwhile, Gibson warned the visitors that the pace barrage they faced in the first Test will continue through the series despite the absence of injured Dale Steyn.
“When you’re playing at home you play to your strengths and at the moment we have some high quality fast bowlers. I’m a very fast bowling-minded coach and I guess we’ll always have to find a balance with whether or not we can get four fast bowlers in the team, first of all,” Gibson stated.
Two pacers – Duanne Olivier and uncapped Lungi Ngidi – have been called up to the squad, while all-rounder Chris Morris is also in contention for the second Test.
Centurion and Wanderers (venue for third Test in Johannesburg) historically offer a lot more seam and swing than Newlands along with additional bounce.
“You saw some good fast bowlers on both sides and from my understanding of Centurion, it’s a pitch with some pace and bounce and that will probably be the make-up of the team going forward,” Gibson added.
2 new faces
Cape Town: South Africa have added the fast bowling duo of Duanne Olivier and uncapped 21-year-old Lungi Ngidi to their squad for the second Test against India later this week. The changes came into place after Dale Steyn picked up a heel injury in the first Test at Newlands. Olivier has played five Tests – all of them in 2017 – and Ngidi made his international debut in a T20I game against Sri Lanka last year but is yet to play the other two formats. The squad: Faf du Plessis (captain), Hashim Amla, Temba Bavuma, Theunis de Bruyn, Quinton de Kock (wicket-keeper), AB de Villiers, Dean Elgar, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Morne Morkel, Chris Morris, Andile Phehlukwayo, Vernon Philander, Kagiso Rabada, Duanne Olivier and Lungi Ngidi
Press Trust of India
