Test cricket is set to be in a healthy state at least for the next two months or so as two big series take place simultaneously.
Four of the five top ranked Test teams are taking part in two mouth watering series; the English team has already started its quest of retaining the Ashes in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 with the first match underway at the Gabba in Brisbane.
On the other hand the South Africans fresh from an absorbing battle in a two Test match series against Pakistan that was drawn, are in for another challenge as they take on Dhoni’s India in a three Test match contest that starts in
a fortnight in their own backyard.
The series is effectively a battle between the top two teams in the longest format of the game. Whilst India has been the number one ranked Test team since the start of the year; South Africa is battling with http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758 for the number
two spot.
The Proteas would start as favourites against India at home, especially if they prepare hard bouncy track with a tinge of green on them to counter the much vaunted Indian batting line-up.
Before the series starts the South Africans have some injury concerns to deal with the most important being the hand injury sustained by Smith during the ODI series against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755.
Smith was hit on his left hand by a searing bouncer by Shoaib Akhtar. He sat out the next two ODIs yet made a return for the last two matches and the two match Test series.
The injury aggravated during the second test at Abu Dhabi forcing Smith to sit on the sidelines on the last day of the Test.
Cricket South Africa’s medical team is monitoring Smith's rehabilitation
“We have been given the assurance that Graeme's injury is healing within expectation and we are confident that he will make a full recovery and be available for the entire series against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750,”
claimed the head Doctor of the medical panel.
On the other hand the South African coach wants pacer-friendly tracks for the Indian series, yet he is keen on a contest between the bat and the ball rather than wickets that are lopsided in bowlers favour.
“We've got to take our strengths into consideration, and hopefully we have wickets that will play to those strengths and help us rather than the opposition,”
South Africa coach Corrie van Zyl said at the team's arrival press conference in Johannesburg on Thursday.
The South Africans have arguably the most potent pace attack in Test cricket at the moment. They have the world number one strike bowler in their ranks in the form of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Morne-Morkel-c77722.
The Indians are yet to win a series in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Africa-c757 and their task would be cut out if the wickets have extra juice in them and support the pacemen.
The series is set to be an enthralling contest and one that fans from both countries are eagerly waiting for.
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