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AGENCE FRANCE PRESSE
Durban, Dec 25: South Africa's cricketers are braced for an onslaught from the wounded West Indies when the third Test starts at Kingsmead on Saturday. ``We expect them to come at us very hard,'' said South African coach Bob Woolmer, whose team holds a 2-0 lead in the five-Test series.
``The last thing we will do is underestimate them. We will not be fooled by our position in the series. We played the better cricket in the first two Tests, but the wins were not achieved easily. It was very tough cricket.''Although veteran West Indies fast bowlers Courtney Walsh and Curtly Ambrose have been outstanding, the batsmen have yet to come to terms with the South African pace attack spearheaded by Allan Donald and Shaun Pollock.
World record holder and captain Brian Lara, vice-captain Carl Hooper and Shivnarine Chanderpaul have all made centuries in provincial games but have not shown their best form in the Test matches.
The Kingsmead pitch is expected to provide much better batting conditions than Johannesburgor Port Elizabeth. Errol Stewart, captain of the local KwaZulu-Natal team, says the pitches for the two most recent provincial matches were ``absolute beauties''.
The West Indies are expected to juggle their batting resources, with a possible move up the order to number three for left-hander Chanderpaul, who made 182 against South Africa A at Pietermaritzburg earlier in the week.Opener Philo Wallace is expected to return after recovering from glandular fever, while reserve wicketkeeper Junior Murray may get a game as a batsman.
The hosts only decision will be whether to use off-spinner Pat Symcox or left-armer Paul Adams, with Symcox's gritty batting and steady bowling expected to get the nod.
The South African team only assembled at midday on Thursday after six of the players were involved in day-night provincial matches on Wednesday.
Openers Gary Kirsten and Herschelle Gibbs, who both failed in Port Elizabeth, had a confidence boost when they made half-centuries for Western Province against Gautengin Cape Town.
Lara said he is demanding a better performance from the tourists. ``We have two great fast bowlers who are performing well but cricket requires a team effort from all 11 players,'' he said.
Teams
South Africa (from): Hansie Cronje (captain), Gary Kirsten, Herschelle Gibbs, Jacques Kallis, Daryll Cullinan, Jonty Rhodes, Shaun Pollock, Mark Boucher, Pat Symcox, Allan Donald, David Terbrugge and Paul Adams.
West Indies (from): Brian Lara (captain), Clayton Lambert, Philo Wallace, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Carl Hooper, Stuart Williams, Junior Murray, Ridley Jacobs, Rawl Lewis, Nixon McLean, Curtly Ambrose, Courtney Walsh, Franklyn Rose, Floyd Reifer, Darren Ganga and Mervyn Dillon.
Umpires: David Orchard (SA), Russel Tiffin (Zimbabwe).
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
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This story was printed from Net Express located at http://www.expressindia.com. Net Express provides a portal to India, with news from The Indian Express and The Financial Express along with sites on travel and tourism, the entertainment industry, the power sector, the environment and much more.
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