It’s just another step in their preparation says McDonald – Cricket News Update
Ahead of South Africa’s only warm-up match of the tour Down Under, Australia A skipper, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Andrew-McDonald-c1042, has played down the significance of the clash, claiming that the visitors will treat the game as just a stepping stone before the eventual series takes place from next week.
McDonald has been tasked to soften up the opponents in the three-day contest, which begins tomorrow at the Sydney Cricket Ground. It will be the Proteas’ first longer-version assignment since becoming the no.1 Test side in the world in August.
Their preparations will key as they look to preserve their Test status for a considerable period. If they win the upcoming series, the tourists will begin the New Year with their crown firmly intact; however, given the dominant nature of the Aussie side last year, and at home in particular, their task will not be easy.
With Cricket Australia naming a strong http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Steven-Barry-Smith-c91279, many feel that an early blow in the warm-up match will aid the national team in getting the better of their opponents, while further enhance their own chances of climbing the Test rankings.
However, McDonald believes that notion will be meaningless for the touring party, which will simply be looking to get as much practice as possible ahead of the first Test, which kicks off at Brisbane from November 9.
"It's just another step in their preparations," he said. "The first psychological blow will be the first session of the first Test and anything leading into that will be just be lip service. They will be looking to get a solid hit-out because it's their last competitive game before the Test match."
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/M-Morkel-c73528’s extensive involvement in the CL T20 will also be a concern.
McDonald nonetheless, said that his side will be geared up to tackle the inform tourists.
"Every game you try to win it and we're going to try to move in the direction to make sure the game gets to a result," he said.
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