South Africa's world cup 2007 preparation - Disaster ?

[Khalil]

Graeme Smith says that the ODI's against India and Pakistan in S.A are an important part of their world cup preparation.

I fail to understand his logic. S.A are preparing fast bouncy tracks and playing with 5 pacers and no spinners in these 'preparation games'.

The world cup matches will be played on flat wickets that will give the bowlers very little assistance. Flat track bullies from the Indian subcontinent will maul short pitched bowling on those wickets. S.A is doing nothing to prepare spinners. Their bowling in the world cup 2007 will be one dimensional and very ineffectual.

[Amjid Javed]

1st off all S.A dont have a spinner of any sort of quality to call upon. secondly with S.A been at home they arent exactly going to roll out a welcome mat to asian teams by producing flat wickets.

[PlanetPakistan]

I reckon the upcoming ODIs will be on flat pitches...remember 872 runs were scored in 'that' ODI and 'that' ODI was in SA!

[siddharth]

Even this much preparation is more than enough, i guess

[Khalil]

I reckon the upcoming ODIs will be on flat pitches...remember 872 runs were scored in 'that' ODI and 'that' ODI was in SA!

S.A prepared flat tracks against the Aussies because S.A batsman were always poor against the Aussies fast bowlers on lively tracks

[the true passionist]

I think the SAF will play the first couple of ODis in both series on bouncy fast tracks to put the opposition on the back foot and than prepare some flat ones. This will give them better preparation for the World Cup.

[Officer Barbrady]

Winning against Pakistan and India is important for the CV. And it's easier on such tracks.

Under Smith they anyway have little chance of doing anything but the ordinary. It is disappointing because they can be a much better team under a different captain.