The limited time at their disposal to adapt to the local conditions is the biggest challenge for South Africa ahead of their opening Test against India, team's coach Corrie Van Zyl said in Nagpur on Thursday.
"My biggest challenge is to prepare the players in such a congested time to these conditions from the bouncy wickets of South Africa. We have to get in as many practice sessions as possible and obviously the two-day game (against the Cricket Board President's XI that concluded yesterday) has helped tremendously," said Van Zyl at an interactive session with the mediapersons at the team hotel.
The two teams will start the two-match series here in two days' time. Van Zyl, who took over the reins from Mickey Arthur just a few days before the team left for India in a significant makeover of the coaching and selection panels, said the key to doing well was to face up to the challenging conditions.
"The key lies in making sure our mindset is right for the challenge in these difficult conditions," said the 48-year-old former cricketer who had come eight years ago as an assistant coach to India. Van Zyl expected the wicket to help the spinners in the Test series opener starting at the new VCA Stadium in Jamtha on the outskirts of this Orange City on Saturday.
{{/usCountry}}"The key lies in making sure our mindset is right for the challenge in these difficult conditions," said the 48-year-old former cricketer who had come eight years ago as an assistant coach to India. Van Zyl expected the wicket to help the spinners in the Test series opener starting at the new VCA Stadium in Jamtha on the outskirts of this Orange City on Saturday.
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