Thursday, April 10, 2008

Aggression is in our nature: SA coach

Ahmedabad: After thrashing India in three days in Ahmedabad, South Africa know they hold the edge over the hosts going into the final match of the series in Kanpur. And their coach told CNN-IBN's Roma Khanna that they are prepared for the worst: a rank turner in Kanpur.
Mickey Arthur: It's hard to talk about that. I know that we were extremely focussed. At the start of the season, we set our goals. We have set goals we wanted to achieve for this team. We wanted to win three series in the sub-continent this season. We have done that in Pakistan, we've done that in Bangladesh, and we are hoping to win here too. And that would be a really good season for us. And then we know we go to England with a lot of confidence and having achieved what we set out to do at the start of the season. So we are just a goal oriented side. We focussed on achieving these goals and it's going well for us so far.
Roma Khanna: A word on your bowlers, the way we saw Dale Steyn bowling in Chennai and then coming back and wrapping up the first innings in just 20 overs?
Mickey Arthur: I think as a group, our bowlers have performed very, very well. I think we used the conditions really well on the first morning. We wanted to be aggressive, that's in our nature. We have got guys who can get it up to 150 kmph. I want them to be aggressive. I want them to be hitting the deck really hard. And they did that, which was great.
Roma Khanna: What do you expect in Kanpur and going in to Kanpur?
Mickey Arthur: I expect the wicket to turn hugely in Kanpur. I'm sure they have been on the phone to the groundsmen. I think it will obviously try and favour their spinners, which is great, because if it does, it might go through the top. I don't want to face guys bowling at 150 kmph through the top either. So, it will be interesting to see what happens, but I expect them to play to their strengths in Kanpur

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