Rain played spoil-sport to the preparations of the Faf du Plessis-led South African team as its scheduled training session at the Dr. YSR-ACA-VDCA Stadium here had to be cut short following a heavy downpour within 40 minutes of the commencement of the nets here on Tuesday.
During that brief stint, key players including du Plessis, fast bowler Kagiso Rabada Temba Bavuma got a feel of the conditions in the City where the South Africans will take on India in the first Test to be played from October 2.
Animated discussion
With rains forcing the players to hurry for cover, the sight of du Plessis engaged in an animated discussion with one of the support staff members apparently gesticulating about the follow-through of the bat was a reminder that the South Africans are determined to keep improving with each game after the morale-boosting effort to level the T-20 series against India.
In a way, the visitors, who are scheduled to play a three-day warm-up game against Rohit Sharma-led Board President’s XI at Vizianagaram from September 26 to 28, also got a hint of the inclement weather which is predicted to follow them over the next few days.
The Vizianagaram District Cricket Association officials are keeping their fingers crossed hoping that rains will stay away as they prepare to host the biggest cricket match at Dr. PVG Raju Sports Complex at home.
A senior official said that Rohit Sharma was expected to join the team on Wednesday even as the President’s XI is expected to have a full training session tomorrow morning.
