IND v SA 2019: Faf du Plessis expecting Pune to offer more turn for spinners than Vizag 

South Africa is approaching the second Test already 1-0 down in the three-match series.

Faf and his men must be desperate to bounce back | AFP

South Africa captain Faf du Plessis has foreseen the deck in Pune for the second Test against India will offer more turn for spinners than an abrasive but slow paced track in Visakhapatnam for the first Test did. 

While the South African spinners failed miserably, the Indian spin duo of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja also had to work harder for their wickets, especially in the first innings, as the hosts went 1-0 up in the three-match series in Vizag. 

"I know Indian conditions quite well, the turf is a little bit redder here and in terms of that, it is generally more spinning condition. So, expecting the ball to spin more than the first Test," Du Plessis told reporters before the start of the second Test on Thursday (October 10). 

"Extremely hot conditions, we spent a lot of time in the field. And the thinking is to be fresh as I said in a previous Test match that there is not enough time to find your answers in the nets now."

"The work has been done before the series so it's about trusting that. Today everyone got the good practice, we took a little bit longer than usual as there were only two nets available. The general feeling in the camp is to be fresh for the five days," he added. 

Du Plessis is hoping the toss goes his team's way this time so that it can put some pressure on the Indian team. "I think it is obvious in saying that in every Test match we would like to start well. Even start a Test match ahead of India that would be nice. We as a team are very resilient and we always make a comeback," he said. 

Part of the inaugural World Test Championship, this series is very important towards deciding the final standings for a marquee final at Lord's in June 2021. However, the points system offering different points for a win depending upon the length of the series has certainly been a cause of debates. 

"It is complicated," said Du Plessis. "Obviously the shorter the Test series the more points you get. In two Tests you get 120 points and in the five-match series, you have to win 5-0 to get 120 points which is a bit harder. I have noticed that in this thing you always find holes and flaws in the systems, it is never gonna be a perfect system."

(Inputs from ANI)

 
 

By Kashish Chadha - 09 Oct, 2019

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