http://www.senore.com/Cricket/AB-de-Villiers-c887 calls for an unchanged squad for Leeds Test – Cricket News Update
Expressing confidence in the Starting XI that played in the innings victory over http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Allan-Robert-Border-c43726 de Villiers, on Saturday talked against unsettling the winning combination going into the second Test, at
Leeds.
Speaking to media persons after the drawn two-day tour match against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Worcestershire-c866, the wicketkeeper batsman said that the whole squad played really well at the Oval adding that he wants to see the same team coming out Headingley.
"We won the first Test so whether or not some of us are in good or bad form we played well as a team. We would hate to unsettle that whole vibe that we had," said De Villiers on Saturday.
"We felt in control the whole time, the guys played exceptionally well and we went one-nil up. It's really hard to change a winning formula, especially at Test level, when you are really comfortable with the 11 guys to go out there in the field. I would
like to see the same team coming out in the next Test," he added further.
In the series opener, the Proteas outclassed the hosts in every department of the game. After bowling out the formidable English batting line-up for 385, South African top-order led the assault piling up a mammoth total of 637 for 2 declare. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/HM-Amla-c1557
scored a record triple century, which was well complemented by Jacques Kallis’ 182 not out and 131 from skipper http://www.senore.com/Cricket/GC-Smith-c1473, playing his hundredth Test.
The bowlers were also remarkable bowling out Strauss’ men twice on the on the flat and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Andrew-John-Trevor-Miller-c44458 Oval pitch, that has very little to offer to them. Eight of the English batsmen being caught behind, means De Villiers, also did a brilliant job with the gloves.
However, he looked a bit uncomfortable when keeping for leg-spinner http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Imran-c64193 Tahir, off whom he dropped a catch, besides giving away eight byes.
Blaming the ‘big rough patches’ at The Oval for his flawed keeping, De Villiers said that he had spent last few days working on it, and hoped to do well at Leeds this week.
It may be recalled that de Villiers has been forced to don gloves in Tests, after Mark Boucher’s ill-fated retirement earlier this month.
The Proteas currently lead the three-Test series 1-0 and need to at least draw the next two games to dethrone England as the number one Test side.
The second Test gets underway at Leeds, Headingley, on Thursday, August 2.
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