Batsmen will shine at the Headingley Leeds, predicts Jacques Rudolph – Cricket News Update
Having witnessed a flat batting track in the first of the three-match Test series at the Oval against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Jacques-Rudolph-c1619, the South African middle-order batsman, believes that the Headingley Test will be another batting paradise and wants the leg-spinner,
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Imran-c64193 Tahir, to adjust his game accordingly.
The pitch at the Oval was quite similar to the ones in the sub-continent, heavily in favour of the batsman and not offering much to the fast bowlers. In reply to the home team’s 385 in the first innings, the Proteas took maximum advantage of the conditions
and scored 637 runs after losing just two wickets.
Some of the experts are claiming that the conditions at Leeds (for the second Test) will offer additional movement in the air as well as off the pitch to the seam bowlers, making the batsmen’s job a touch difficult.
However, the 31-year-old cricketer, who has played a lot of cricket for http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Yorkshire-c867 (at Headingley), does not agree, and feels if the weather holds, the batsmen will relish their chances. Rudolph thinks that the players may find it hard at the start of their
innings but said that batting gets easier at the Leeds once a batsman survives the initial attack.
"There is a strong perception that Headingley is more a bowler's kind of wicket but in my experience here, especially when the sun is out, it's a really nice place to bat," the middle-order batsman expressed. "Once you get yourself in and get used to the
swing and a little bit of seam movement you can get yourself in."
The cricketer from Transvaal further added that the Headingley track will not offer much support to the spinners, advising Tahir, the wrist-spinner, not to be over-aggressive, and bowl at the good length consistently.
"It won't be as dry as The Oval and it won't be as bouncy or turn as much. From a spinner's point of view, you've got to adapt your game plan and maybe be a little bit more containing as opposed to attacking," Rudolph added.
The second Test starts tomorrow with the visitors leading 1-0.
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