Australia captain Pat Cummins said the pitch in Durban looks like it will be a challenge, before the first Test against South Africa starts on Friday.
Australia also has a late worry of its own. Young allrounder Cooper Connolly left training in a mask because of a head cold, Fox Sports reported.
“It looks like they’re going to be a challenge,” Cummins said. “(By choosing) two spinners, obviously (that) tells you that they think it might turn a little bit out there.”
Connolly trained with the squad. He was later seen putting on a mask and leaving the ground in a car, not on the team bus.
Any doubt over Connolly makes Australia’s selection harder. The visitors are choosing two of Connolly, Nic Maddinson and Beau Webster for the middle order. One of the spots was left open by Cam Green.
Australia did not name its team a day before the match. Cummins said the selectors wanted one more look at the ground. “But we’re pretty confident we’ve got an XI,” he said.
South Africa named its side on Thursday. The Proteas will play spinners Simon Harmer and Keshav Maharaj together. Fast bowler Kagiso Rabada is out as he recovers from a hamstring strain.
Proteas captain Temba Bavuma said he expects the pitch to turn as the match goes on. “Ordinarily, that’s how Durban has gone about it,” he said.
Bavuma said the two spinners have added something new to a team known for fast bowling. “Those two spin twins, if I could call them that, I think they’ve added another dimension to our bowling attack,” he said.
He said the whole team is confident the pair can put Australia under pressure. He added that there is healthy competition between them.
Australia have worked on spin in the nets in recent days. Fox Sports reported that former players Allan Border and Brendon Julian were worried about how the team handled spin. Australia lost the recent one-day series to South Africa 2-1.
Cummins said Matt Kuhnemann could join Nathan Lyon if Australia want a second spinner. “They could definitely both play. That’s why they were picked,” he said.
He said Kuhnemann spins the ball away from right-handed batters, which is different from Lyon. Cummins said Lyon had a great build-up and knows the conditions from earlier tours.
Bavuma said he doubts Australia will change their usual plan of three fast bowlers and Lyon. Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood are all fit.
Cummins also said his batters must learn to grind through long sessions. “It might not be the glamorous stuff, but it’s that grinding out a session,” he said.
Bavuma said Australia’s top order is still changing as the team looks to replace David Warner. He said South Africa faced a similar search a few years ago.
The first Test of the series starts at Kingsmead in Durban on Friday.
Source: this article is based on reporting by Fox Sports. Image: Fox Sports. Written with the help of AI and published by the Tzaneen Voice Sports desk. See our Editorial Standards.
Tiyani Mathebula writes about sport for Tzaneen Voice. Tiyani covers Bafana Bafana, the Springboks, the Proteas and the PSL, along with athletics, tennis and local club sport. Match reports and previews focus on results, team news, fixtures and what each game means for South African teams and fans.