Published: Dec 25, 2013, 05:20 PM (IST)
Edited: Dec 25, 2013, 05:41 PM (IST)
Johannesburg; Dec 25, 2013
South African vice-captain AB de Villiers has said that the team will seek to arrest a dismal Durban run of four straight defeats at Kingsmead when they host India in the second and final Test on Thursday, following their epic draw in Johannesburg.
The hosts are at loss to explain their miserable run at one of the country’s premier Test grounds, where they have not won since beating West Indies in 2008, while Australia, England, India and Sri Lanka have all enjoyed handsome triumphs in Durban over the world’s top ranked Test team since then.
According to Sport24, De Villiers admitted that he and the team is confused and does not know what to expect at Durban, although he added that they are going to play there like they have always been doing, take it one ball at a time and use their experience to adapt as quickly to the pitch as they can.
De Villiers suggested that it would be a good toss to win, with a lively pitch expected for the first part of the Test and expected the pitch to be more firm, more green and having a bit of turn towards the end, adding that batting first had always seemed a better option at first in Durban for them. South Africa’s overall record at Kingsmead is symmetrical — they have won 13, lost 13 and been involved in 13 draws, the report added.
