Gary Kirsten is a coach like many, especially the likes of Virender Sehwag who were never too much to put weight on tour matches. But Kepler Wessels, former South African captain, believes that the lack of warm up is what cost South Africa against Australia.
Kepler Wessels does not want drastic personnel changes in the face of the drubbing that South Africa suffered at home against the Australians in the return leg of the Test series. However, he feels that it was the fact that most South African players had not played serious cricket since returning from Australia that caught them unawares. While Australia found new self belief in their debutants, South Africa struggled to replicate the intensity that made them undisputed champions down under during the three Test series.
Now with a Test to play, South Africa have already lost the series and the momentum. It will be remarkable if they can indeed get some of the magic back, even in a Test will not affect the result of the series.
The new Indian coach, Kirsten, though is not a great believer in tour matches. To him, it is sufficient to have mental preparation in camps and ahead of the series, even stating that he would not like to waste good form in a tour match when a Test prospect was in store.
Different men, different perspectives.
