http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750 to take on South Africa without ace bowler Zaheer Khan
It’s time to forget the Ashes because the real heavy weights in Test cricket, the number one India and number two http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Africa-c757 are set to take each other on, at the Centurion.
But, just before the first Test match a tragedy has struck the Indian side as it seems that their main bowler Zaheer http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Khan-c71319 will be missing the first game owing to a groin strain.
The Indian skipper http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mahendra-Singh-Dhoni-c73820 while talking about the situation of his ace bowler said, “Zak has been our best bowler who has always led the bowling attack, whatever the conditions may be, whether it is a flat track or a seaming track, He is always
one bowler who has done really well. It is a blow, but at the same time we have to see the longer picture. We have to think about the World Cup also. We are so close to the World Cup, and any injury to any of your best 11 players may have a bigger impact,
so that's also a bit of a concern. Till we are 100 per cent sure about his fitness and injury, we won't risk playing him."
This year has been particularly bad for the left-hander because he has been facing many injury problems which have kept him out of action. He was prepped by the Indian team to spearhead the bowling attack, but now that seems like a distant probability.
Khan barely managed to bowl only a few overs during the two days of net practice and was mostly busy with the team physio Paul Close working on his injury. Dhoni said, “If Zaheer can't play then either http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Jaidev-Unadkat-c1626 or Umesh Yadav may make Test debut. Same
is the case with number 6 batting spot. Pujara is pushing for that spot, but let's see. You have to wait till tomorrow morning."
Even with the absence of Zaheer Khan the Indians are quite confident that they will give the Proteas one h**l of a time in their own backyard. The best thing for India is that this time they are being coached by http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Gary-Kirsten-c58527 who is no alien to the conditions
in South Africa. Kirsten is well aware of the playing situations in that part of the world and knows what his team has to do to take an upper hand on the hosts.
The touring management chose to practice in the nets instead of arranging some warm up matches before the first Test. Even though this decision was criticised back home, the players had no objections to it. The players have full faith in their coach and
believe that Kirsten knows exactly what he is doing.
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