'Batsmen should learn to leave few balls'

JOHANNESBURG: The Indian bowling misery was out in the open at Wanderers on Thursday. But what's bound to make the Indian team management more worried is the way the much-vaunted top-order capitulated against the pace and bounce of the six-pronged pace attack.

AB de Villiers, the South African captain, even didn't mind ringing the warning bell that he might keep a similar attack going if he feels the pitch is conducive to pace bowling.

Rohit Sharma, during the course of a 43-ball 18, kept struggling, getting beaten time and again outside the off-stump. However, Kepler Wessels, former South African captain and opener, feels this experience may stand Rohit in good stead. "It can happen to a batsman who is playing on such a pitch against this kind of an attack. Probably, this longish stay in the middle will help him get into some form in the games to come," Wessels told TOI.

The South African also felt that the Indian openers will have to learn how to leave the ball if they have to be successful on South African pitches. "Dropping your wrists at the last moment and leaving it outside the offstump is going to be crucial," Wessels said.

It was meant as much for Rohit, as for Shikhar Dhawan, who seemed to be in a hurry and got out trying a hook shot off Morne Morkel. Indian skipper MS Dhoni, though defended his in-form opener. "That's how he plays his cricket...That ball jumped a little too much on him. I don't see reasons to be too worried about it at this stage of the series," Dhoni said.

Peter Kirsten, former South African middle-order batsman and brother of Gary Kirsten, feels that the likes of Rohit, Dhawan and Raina have to look to buy time in the middle before going for their shots. "They can't go around playing the way they do in the subcontinent...It's crucial that they give themselves some more time in the middle," Kirsten said.

Dhoni, on his part, felt that Rohit did look to give himself some time. "Don't you think he looked to grind? I am sure they will do better as the series progresses," Dhoni said.

Durban may be easier

The South African contingent feels that India might not struggle in Durban as much as they did in Wanderers. "The pitch there is a touch flatter and I think it will be to their liking," de Villiers said. He added that he expects India to mount a strong fightback. "If I know India, they won't take this lying down...we are expecting a tough game at Durban," AB said.

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Shweta Pandey

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