Bring on the verbals - Alviro
by Neil Manthorp 20 November 2012, 06:45
Alviro Petersen encouraged Australia’s fast bowlers to continue with their tactic of sledging South Africa’s top-order batsman saying that it was a compliment to receive “some verbals from the opposition.”
Fast bowler Peter Siddle told Channel Nine news on Monday that he believed some of South Africa’s batsmen were “distracted” by the verbal hostility coming from him and James Pattinson during the first test in Brisbane and that they planned to carry on when the second test starts at the Adelaide Oval on Thursday.
“Cricket remains a game played on the pitch, fortunately. If that’s their strategy then you have to back it up on the field. Sometimes it’s nice to get some verbals from the opposition, it can turn you on,” said Petersen before training on Tuesday.
The experienced opener also played down the squad’s "mini holiday" after the Gabba test saying it was not the first time coach Gary Kirsten had instituted a policy of rest.
“A lot has been said and written about us having time off but we did exactly the same in England – it’s important to have fresh minds and to be able to peak at the right time,” Petersen said. “Preparation is going really well to the point where we could start the test match tomorrow.”
Neither side could claim a "moral" victory after the draw in Brisbane although Petersen conceded that South Africa’s highly regarded bowling attack did not perform at their best.
“We bowled nicely at times and we’re very comfortable with what we’ve got. We bowled decently but there are certainly a few things we can improve on.
"In Brisbane we had them under pressure and let them go a bit. This time hopefully we can squeeze them and disrupt their rhythm. We like to play a spinner and it looks like we may do that here,” Petersen said.
The Highveld Lions skipper smiled whimsically at a local reporter who asked whether the tourists felt the need to "prove themselves" with a victory on Australian soil:
“We did it last time, I don’t know how many times we have to do it. Last time we were chasing the ranking, this time we are holding on to it.
"For the last year or two we have played good cricket under pressure, home and away, that’s why we are No 1. We have come together as a unit – it’s like a collective force. We are very comfortable with ourselves as a team.”
