Jennings and Pybus feel batsmen have the advantage at Wanderers

SA exprts Ray Jennings and Richard Pybus have some good news for India at the Champions Trophy

Jennings and Pybus feel batsmen have the advantage at Wanderers

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It's the start of the cricket season in South Africa and the players are a bit apprehensive of what to expect in terms of wickets for the Champions Trophy, which kicks off today.

Normally, South African pitches are known to have pace and bounce. This time, players are a bit anxious because the last season veered from the normal period due to the last minute re-scheduling of the Indian Premier League in the Rainbow Nation. As a result, the wickets were used for six weeks extra (in April-May) after the regular SA season.

While the impact of the altered season remains to be seen, Johannesburg-based Royal Challengers' coach Ray Jennings opined that batsmen should thrive. "The wickets will be quite nice for batting they will be flat with true bounce quicker than seen in England (during the England vs Australia ODI series)," Jennings told
MiD DAY.

The former SA coach is a Transvaal veteran, having played domestic cricket for the province which has its headquarters at the Wanderers, one of the two Champions Trophy venues. Centurion in Pretoria is the other.

Jennings, who was a highly rated wicketkeeper during the 1970s and '80s, picked his home country, SA, as the frontrunners. "South Africa will be favourites. India should also have a good tournament and finish among the top four. Their coach, Gary Kirsten, knows the conditions well," added Jennings.

Richard Pybus, who can be considered an authority on Centurion's SuperSport Park wicket, having coached the Titans from 2005 till last season, said spinners will have a large role to play in the Champions Trophy.

"The wickets here were used heavily in the last season because of the IPL and the recovery season has been delayed. The winter was very harsh in Johannesburg and Pretoria and there is very little grass growth in winter.
Hence, wickets will be slower than they normally are during this time," said Pybus, who lives close to Centurion.

"Sides with two good spinners will be in a good position. India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and South Africa will have an advantage because of their strong spin departments," added Pybus.