Graeme Smith said that he wouldn’t mind batting first in the second Test commencing here on Thursday as that would help his team probe the Indian speedsters, who bowled extensively on the concluding day of the first Test.
“That (first Test) workload will be in their legs and if we can get a good partnership, hopefully we could take advantage of the amount of time (they have spent on the field). But that decision (at the toss) will be based on the surface. We have got most bases covered and we can be effective either way,” the South African captain said here on Tuesday.
Indifferent recordSmith conceded that his team has had an indifferent record at Durban and attributed it to his men’s inability to figure out the conditions.
“We haven’t had the best record in Durban and we are looking forward to the opportunity to put that right now. I think one of the reasons is that because we haven’t adapted to the surface and we have had good discussions over that now. It’s a surface that can change every day.
“Statistics does say that day two is maybe a more difficult day to bat than day one. Overhead conditions and weather conditions can also play a big role here in Kingsmead,” Smith said.
The host skipper revealed that Morne Morkel has made some recovery from his right ankle injury and the bowling composition will be decided only after a final call has been made on the speedster’s fitness.
“He has done really well over the last period of time, so we will see how he goes and the medical staff will make the decision. But I feel we have enough bases covered hopefully to be still effective even if he is not fit,” Smith said.
