India ready to break jinx
Series-deciding third and final Test against South Africa to start today.
CAPE TOWN:
Indian captain MS Dhoni said his team was ready to make history when they face South Africa in the series-deciding third and final Test starting at Newlands today, having never won a series in South Africa.
“The good thing with this side is that we know why we can win a series in South Africa,” said Dhoni.
“It feels a very complete dressing room, a very happy dressing room.”
It is India’s fifth Test tour of South Africa and Dhoni acknowledged that it was a great chance to create history by winning the tournament.
“We did that when we won the first Test in Johannesburg in 2006 when we won in South Africa for the first time.
“We definitely have the talent and the temperament to achieve success here, although I always say it’s not about the past, it’s all about how we perform in the next five days.”
Meanwhile, South Africa captain Graeme Smith took solace from his team’s proud record at Newlands, where the host country have won 14 out of 21 Test matches since 1993.
“India are a very experienced team,” said Smith. “We expected them to bounce back and they have. They played well and it builds up for a big Test match at Newlands. It’s always great to play in a New Year Test match in Cape Town.”
India look back to 2006
India were in the same situation four years ago when they came to Newlands with the series level at one-all but Dhoni said the mood in the side was much more confident this time around. South Africa won by five wickets on that occasion and India have yet to win or even share a series in South Africa.
“The dressing room is much better now,” he said. “It doesn’t mean that it was bad four years ago but I can say this is the best dressing room that I have felt in the last five years.”
Published in The Express Tribune, January 2nd, 2011.
Indian captain MS Dhoni said his team was ready to make history when they face South Africa in the series-deciding third and final Test starting at Newlands today, having never won a series in South Africa.
“The good thing with this side is that we know why we can win a series in South Africa,” said Dhoni.
“It feels a very complete dressing room, a very happy dressing room.”
It is India’s fifth Test tour of South Africa and Dhoni acknowledged that it was a great chance to create history by winning the tournament.
“We did that when we won the first Test in Johannesburg in 2006 when we won in South Africa for the first time.
“We definitely have the talent and the temperament to achieve success here, although I always say it’s not about the past, it’s all about how we perform in the next five days.”
Meanwhile, South Africa captain Graeme Smith took solace from his team’s proud record at Newlands, where the host country have won 14 out of 21 Test matches since 1993.
“India are a very experienced team,” said Smith. “We expected them to bounce back and they have. They played well and it builds up for a big Test match at Newlands. It’s always great to play in a New Year Test match in Cape Town.”
India look back to 2006
India were in the same situation four years ago when they came to Newlands with the series level at one-all but Dhoni said the mood in the side was much more confident this time around. South Africa won by five wickets on that occasion and India have yet to win or even share a series in South Africa.
“The dressing room is much better now,” he said. “It doesn’t mean that it was bad four years ago but I can say this is the best dressing room that I have felt in the last five years.”
Published in The Express Tribune, January 2nd, 2011.