West Indies are very unpredictable
We are really looking forward to our first match of the World Cup against the West Indies on Thursday. We have been in Delhi for a while, been able to get in a lot of preparation and are fighting fit. We have also been able to get a couple of good warm-ups in.
- Graeme Smith
- Updated: February 23, 2011 08:39 PM IST
We are really looking forward to our first match of the World Cup against the West Indies on Thursday. We have been in Delhi for a while, been able to get in a lot of preparation and are fighting fit. We have also been able to get a couple of good warm-ups in. These practice matches may not seem important to some but for us they were. One or two players, especially the not so experienced ones, needed some time out in the middle to get a feel of the conditions.
Delhi is an unknown factor for us, really, as we have never played here. The last time South Africa played a match here was way back in 1991 and even then that wasn't at the Kotla. One can, however, see that a real effort has been made here with the outfield.
We're not 100 percent sure what to expect from the wicket but I don't think it will play dangerously as it did during the match between India and Sri Lanka. It looks good and I think it will provide a good game.
The West Indies are a very unpredictable side, and therein lies the danger: we know that better than anyone because we have lost big games to them before. They have so many match-winners and can never, never be taken for granted.
They may have lost Barath and Baugh to injury but they are packed with experience they can bank on in Sarwan and Chanderpaul, Dwayne Bravo, who has been around for a while now, and Pollard, who can be dangerous.
Then there is Gayle who can take a match away from any opposition and is a handy spin option, besides specialists like Sulieman Benn and Nikita Miller. They have some good pace too in Sammy, Roach and Dwayne. So, we have a good many things to look at to get just the right balance and side to do the job.
South Africa, I think, this time is a bit of an unknown quantity. We are a lot more open to change than we were before, a lot more relaxed. There are some players who have never been seen on the world stage, like Imran Tahir. This time we have lots of pace and spin options which is a bit unusual for us.
There is more subtlety and variation the side. Kallis has come through well with bat and ball in the warm-ups. I am confident he is fit, and so is he. This could probably be his last World Cup so he wants to have a big one. He, Hashim and AB are very good with the bat in these conditions and we will want to feed off that.
Every team will be motivated but for us, it is all about taking it one day at a time. Thursday is just the beginning and there will be lots more cricket to be played before the knockouts. The group stage is crucial and we know we have to give our best. We love being here and we have a great relationship with the Indian crowd and, though we know it won't happen when we play India, we are hoping they will get behind us otherwise.
It's going to be a long summer here for many of us, what with the IPL right up after the Cup. Some of us have been spending a lot of time in India recently and I sometimes think it would be better to just buy a home here and holiday back in South Africa! I have a good feeling about this World Cup, there is a lot of energy and confidence among the boys. Of course, a lot of things need to go your way but we are all excited about Thursday and ready to go.