SA ready for any kind of pitch - van Zyl

	The one attribute that Corrie van Zyl admires the most in the South African team is the professionalism © AFP
Related Links Players/Officials: Corrie van Zyl Series/Tournaments: South Africa tour of India Teams: India | South Africa

Corrie van Zyl, victorious in his first Test as South Africa's coach, has said that his team will not be intimidated by a probable turning track at Eden Gardens because the visitors are now mentally much stronger than they were on their last visit in 2008.

Two years ago Dale Steyn had broken the back of India's batting with a powerful burst of fast bowling in Ahmedabad to put South Africa one up going into the final Test in Kanpur a week later. India opted for a turning pitch at Green Park, which Steyn called a "bunsen burner", won the Test and levelled the series.

This time, though, Graeme Smith is leading a unit that is not just consumed by the possibility of beating India in India but is confident of doing so. That, van Zyl points out, is the difference between this squad and the previous ones. "Mentally, the South African team is better prepared," van Zyl, who was appointed the interim coach after Mickey Arthur resigned, said.

"It is still going to be a challenge to deal with turning wickets or whatever the wicket is," he said. The South African think-tank has already assumed the Indians will opt for a pitch that play to their strengths. "India have more control over the conditions," Smith had said yesterday after the innings win in Nagpur.

van Zyl echoed his captain's sentiments today. "I won't say it would be a minefield, but I do expect something that will help the Indian team."

But the South African coach said they would not be in a hurry to change their gameplans, especially after they worked so well in Nagpur. Speaking about the aggressive bowling lines adopted by Steyn, Morne Morkel and Wayne Parnell, van Zyl said it was a conscious decision. "It would be part of our gameplan going forward. We need to make sure as a bowling unit we start operating together and we don't work as individuals. That makes you a lot more effective."

Still there was an individual effort that stood out and that came from Paul Harris. The left-arm spinner had been targeted going into the series but produced a concerted effort of bowling to strict lines and lengths that clamped the movement of the specialist Indian batsmen, especially in the crucial second innings.

"Just the fact that he bowled so many overs, and his economy rate, shows he was really effective," van Zyl pointed out. Importantly Harris knows exactly what his role is within the bowling unit. He said that the decision to enforce the follow-on became viable only because Harris kept an end tight and delivered marathon spells on the fourth afternoon.

Asked whether the leg-stump line against Sachin Tendulkar was deliberate, considering the batsman's past vulnerability to such a ploy, van Zyl indirectly confirmed it. "The line of the attack is determined by the amount of the turn on offer and the line where it turns from. And we had to assess where it was more difficult to score against."

van Zyl has been part of the South African coaching set-up for the better half of the last decade and worked closely with various coaches, including Arthur. His previous assignment, before moving into the present job, was to deal with the emerging talent at the High Performance Centre in Pretoria. A fast bowler during his playing days, van Zyl said the most striking aspect about Smith's squad was its "professionalism".

"I was telling the team and the team management that I was pleasantly surprised by the level of professionalism," van Zyl said. According to van Zyl the main reason for the superior mental strength the players possess now could be the structure Arthur worked hard to create. "Credit must be given to Mickey and what he put in the place. That does make my introduction a lot easier."

Both Smith and van Zyl have no illusions about that the second Test, which begins on February 14, being just another hurdle that can be easily crossed. "If the first Test was a challenge then the second Test is a bigger challenge," van Zyl said.

Smith said an extra day's break would be welcome given the amount of preparation that went into the Nagpur Test. "The guys need a few days' rest to regain the mental energy more than anything else. This [first Test win] has taken a lot out of the guys," he said. But he is not losing any sleep yet. "There is enough in the group now and we have beaten India enough number of times. I don't think anything will surprise us going into Kolkata."

Confident Harbhajan not worried about form

	Harbhajan Singh had a tough time in Nagpur © AFP
Related Links Players/Officials: Harbhajan Singh Matches: India v South Africa at Nagpur Series/Tournaments: South Africa tour of India Teams: India

Harbhajan Singh, India's leading spinner, has come in for criticism after a lacklustre showing during the defeat in Nagpur, but he defended his performance in a Test where he was outbowled by South African left-arm spinner Paul Harris. After returning figures of 2 for 166, with only one maiden in 46 overs, Harbhajan praised the manner in which South Africa batted.

"You can't really take five wickets every day," he told the Hindustan Times on Wednesday. "They (the South Africans) have come here to play, they aren't here on holiday. They are among the best in the world, and have played superbly, you can't take that away from them, give them that credit."

Despite being the top wicket-taker in the home series against Sri Lanka late last year, a listless tour of Bangladesh followed by the ineffectiveness in Nagpur has put Harbhajan, India's most successful offspinner with over 300 Test wickets, under pressure. "I have the support of my team and frankly, that's what matters, not what anyone says," he said. "I know myself, I know what I need to do. I've performed very well over time and the statistics, the records reflect that, that's for everyone to see."

Anil Kumble, the senior spinner in the Indian team for much of Harbhajan's career, said he expected a much-improved performance in Kolkata. "I am confident that if he gets some early wickets, he will be a different bowler," he told the Times of India. "It's only a matter of confidence ... Kolkata has been a favourite ground for Harbhajan and I am confident he is going to get back to his old way of picking wickets."

India's hold on the No. 1 Test ranking is shaky after the embarrassing loss in Nagpur, and though the new-look batting flopped in both innings, there was plenty of concern over the bowling, which despite being at full strength allowed South Africa to pile up 558 for 6. Unless the home side win the second Test in Kolkata, starting Sunday, South Africa will win the series and reclaim top spot in the ICC rankings.

South African spinners deserve more respect - Harris

	Paul Harris: "My skill is being able to bowl over the wicket. It's something you have to learn if you're going to do well in Test cricket" © Getty Images
Related Links Bulletin : Harris and Steyn consign India to innings defeat Analysis : Harris moves from facilitator to lead artist Analysis : How Harris choked India Peter Roebuck : Return of finger spin Players/Officials: Paul Harris Matches: India v South Africa at Nagpur Series/Tournaments: South Africa tour of India Teams: South Africa

Paul Harris, South Africa's left-arm spinner, has spoken out against the criticism spinners get in his country if they don't perform to expectations. Harris, whose four wickets played an important role in the innings victory against India in Nagpur, said the negative press in the recent home series against England had upset him.

Harris began the four-Test series with a five-wicket haul in Centurion but he took only four wickets in the next two games. He was dropped for the final game at the Wanderers, which South Africa won to square the series 1-1.

"South African spinners are always under the spotlight and I thought my treatment was a little harsh," Harris told Supercricket. "I took a five-for in the first Test against England (at Centurion) and then two Tests later everyone's calling for me to be dropped. It was a bit disappointing considering what I have done for the team in the last few years, the results I have produced.

"England played me well and I lost some consistency, which irritated me. In fact, it really upset me."

In the Nagpur Test, Harris sparked India's collapse in the first innings when he foxed MS Dhoni with sharp turn from the rough from over the wicket. Dhoni shaped to leave the ball but it lobbed off his glove to the keeper. In the second innings, he got the vital wicket of Sachin Tendulkar, bowled while trying to sweep. Harris said the strategy of bowling on the rough outside the leg stump was paying off.

"It's probably not the most fashionable plan, but frustrating them out was the key. It's more a patience game, but the Indian batsmen have big egos against spin," Harris said. "They will kick it away for five overs but then try something in the sixth over. You know they're going to come at you, especially because of all the media hype.

"My strengths are consistency and patience, and I get a bit of bounce. My job is to keep the batsmen quiet, keep it as tight as possible and make it hard for them to score. My skill is being able to bowl over the wicket. It's something you have to learn if you're going to do well in Test cricket. It wouldn't be your first-choice line of attack and if the pitch is doing a lot you'd go around the wicket. But going over, they don't get runs and you get the odd wicket. Getting a batsman out caught at deep square leg is as good as having him caught at slip."

He said he wasn't aware the Indians were practicing the leg-stump line in Nagpur. Were they? That's a surprise," he told DNA. "But look, they could not score off me because of the situation. You can't bat for three days under pressure. They are known to be aggressive. I would imagine they would be a bit more aggressive in their planning."

However, the bigger matchwinner was Dale Steyn, who took ten wickets. "It was Dale Steyn's Test match. He showed how good he is and it was pretty spectacular taking 10 wickets on that deck," he said. "He makes the spinner's job easier, because I'm talking to the batsmen, telling them that if they don't come after me, Dale's going to take their heads off later on."

The tour was preceded by the drama of coach Mickey Arthur's sudden resignation and the revamping of the selection panel. Harris said that contrary to predictions that the off-field events would distract the team on tour, it only made them a closer, fighting unit.

"I hold Mickey in the very highest esteem, he was the guy who gave me a chance and backed me. He's up there with the best coaches and a champion man, he's sent me about a million text messages since we've been in India," Harris said.

"But it's probably true that a change is as good as a holiday and it's meant the players are now trying to impress the new management, you can see it in the intensity. When we are apprehensive about something, we stick together, it's a great South African trait. The boys are a lot closer, we're all real good mates and that's made the new management's job easier. I have to say Corrie van Zyl (the new coach) has been very good and Kepler Wessels (batting consultant) has been superb."

India v South Africa 2009/10

	The seriousness of Graeme Smith's finger injury is not yet certain © AFP
Related Links Players/Officials: Graeme Smith Series/Tournaments: South Africa tour of India Teams: South Africa

Graeme Smith, the South African captain, has sustained a finger injury while fielding at the Eden Gardens in the build-up to the second and final Test on Sunday. An x-ray taken at the ground cleared him of any tendon damage and Smith will go to a local hospital for an MRI scan after South Africa complete their training.

Smith was hit on his left little finger during practice and Michael Owen-Smith, South Africa's media manager, said he had strained a ligament on the outside half of the finger. "He had an x-ray on the little finger of his left hand, it shows no fracture at all. We are having MRI scan this afternoon just to be 100% certain of what the injury is. It is obviously some sort of ligament damage, so it is just to establish if it is that. At this stage it has been treated as a sprained ligament."

"I'm pretty sure he would around," said AB de Villiers. "Obviously he is one of those irreplaceable players."

Over the last 20 months Smith has had long-standing injury problems. He first suffered a tennis elbow injury during the IPL in India in April 2008 and that forced him to miss the last three ODIs against England the same year. He later broke his hand while facing Australia's Mitchell Johnson in the third Test in Sydney but bravely batted in the second innings to try and save the game. He missed the subsequent ODI series and decided to delay the surgery on on his injured tennis elbow until after the return series against the Australians at home last year.

Bangladesh trail by 184 runs with 7 wickets remaining in the 1st innings

India 243

Bangladesh 59/3 (17.0 ov)

Bangladesh trail by 184 runs with 7 wickets remaining in the 1st innings

Match delayed by bad weather - Day 3

• Bangladesh RR 3.47
• Last 10 ovs 25/3 RR 2.50

Refresh scorecard			Current time: 10:12 local, 04:12 GMT										Test career
	Batsmen	Runs	B	4s	6s	SR	This bowler				Last 10 ovs			Mat	Runs	HS	Ave
	*Mohammad Ashraful (rhb)	0	5	0	0	0.00	0 (1b)				0 (5b)			51	2149	158*	23.10
	Raqibul Hasan (rhb)	1	3	0	0	33.33	1 (3b)				1 (3b)			6	230	65	23.00
	Bowlers	O	M	R	W	Econ	0s		4s	6s	This spell			Mat	Wkts	BBI	Ave
	*Zaheer Khan (lfm)	9.0	1	32	2	3.55	42		6	0	9-1-32-2			69	222	5/29	33.80
	Ishant Sharma (rf)	5.0	1	14	1	2.80	25		3	0	5-1-14-1			20	55	5/118	34.05

Recent overs . . . 1 . 4 | . . . W . 4 | 1 W . . . . | . W . . 1 . Current partnership 1 runs, 0.4 overs, RR: 1.50 (Mohammad Ashraful 0, Raqibul Hasan 1) Last Bat Tamim Iqbal b Khan 31 (81m 45b 6x4 0x6) SR: 68.88 Fall of wicket: 58/3 (16.2 ov); Partnership: 0 runs, 1.0 overs, RR: 0.00 (Mohammad Ashraful 0, Tamim Iqbal 0)

9.25am: No updates yet. Tausif, from Bangladesh: "It's normal for any port city to get rain interruptions, but losing almost an entire day because of fog is pretty bizarre. And it could be related to the fact that some parts of Bangladesh has recorded the coldest temperature in 100 years. Global cooling in effect?" JP: "Not even a meteorologist needed, just a couple of braincells!" Tom, from NZ: "Apparently, after the little master's 44th ton, sales of his shirts went up by 15% in Oceania. as if he wasn't a legend already." 9.00am: Good morning and welcome to the coverage of the third day in Chittagong. It's still quite foggy out there and not surprisingly, there will be yet another delay. We don't know the extent of the delay yet. The pitch is covered. If you remember back in 2007, the Chittagong Test between these two teams was also interrupted by weather, rain on that occasion. Not a drop of rain here but it's a dark room at the Zohur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium. In fact, the umpires aren't yet at the ground. They will head to the ground shortly and have an inspection. So we can forget about starting anytime really soon. Sriram Veera, our man at the (hotel!), has confined himself to his room. He can afford to catch up on sleep. You must read his appreciation of Sachin Tendulkar after his century. It's worth a read, in case you missed it. I guess I gave some of you a scare by saying it was the fourth day. Sorry guys! Rick: "How about hiring a meteorologist to the ICC for scheduling of tournaments and avoiding all these frustrations of waiting?"
End of over 17 (1 run) Bangladesh 59/3 Mohammad Ashraful 0* (5b) Z Khan 9-1-32-2 Raqibul Hasan 1* (3b) I Sharma 5-1-14-1
16.40 The umpires are walking off. Called off. Play will start at 9am tomorrow. That brings to end, finally, a slow day. Hardly any cricket. The Nimbus crew probably took more wickets. See you all tomorrow. 16.35 Breaking news: Sreesanth is bowling left-arm spin to the Nimbus crew. In the words of one veteran Indian journalist on tour: "Its a tennis ball like thingy." Cryptic. Watch out for more earth shattering news. 16.20 The umpires in the middle, talking and talking. Billy was even on the walkie talkie. My guess is that they will call it off, perhaps waiting for the match referee. Not sure what the protocol is. FYI, a local Chittagong radio commentator says tomorrow bad light and rain is forecast. Totally 339 minutes lost in this Test, today itself 269 minutes lost so far till this minute. And the clock is ticking. 16.08 The officials have announced an inspection at 16.15. Thanks for the emails about the wrong time! 16.00 Nothing to report. Still the same. Word from the ground isn't encouraging. I know 2009 seems a while back, but check out our list of best bowling in Tests from the year gone by. Plenty of good stuff. Have you ever wondered more Indian cricketers aren't hairy, uncouth, beer-drinking, potty-mouthed swine? Krish Ashok has. 15.25 Still no movement from the ground. The fans are brave to be sitting there still. Maybe there are getting their money's worth watching the Nimbus crew playing cricket just beyond the boundary. Two men are standing next to the stumps. They are part of the admin staff, not umpires. And M Vijay is batting in one of the nets at the other end. 15.02 No sign of any action. 14.40 Tea has been taken. See you in 20 minutes. Hope we get some cricket. 14.30 Inspection on. They will decide now whether to take an early tea or not. 13.58 The light's faded again and the players are off the field. No hesitation from the Bangladesh batsman once they were approached by the umpires. Big turnaround for India, taking three wickets for six runs. Bangladesh took their foot off the pedal after a strong start. Now, they'll have to start all over again. Raqibul's proved himself in these situations. We'll keep you updated. Tea's supposed to be taken at 3.10 so let's hope we can squeeze in some play before that.
16.6	Khan to Mohammad Ashraful, no run, lands it just a shade outside off, he thrusts his pad out and shoulders arms
16.5	Khan to Raqibul Hasan, 1 run, directs it on the body and he clips him down to the on side
16.4	Khan to Raqibul Hasan, no run, hits a good length and allows the ball to sail through to the keeper, well left again
16.3	Khan to Raqibul Hasan, no run, bangs it in short and gets Raqibul to sway back to evade it
Here's Raqibul
16.2	Khan to Tamim Iqbal, OUT, the off stump gets jolted from its slumber! The ball lands outside off and nips back in, Tamim was a little lazy on the shot and misjudged the bounce which was lower than expected, the stump goes flying back a few yards
	Tamim Iqbal b Khan 31 (81m 45b 6x4 0x6) SR: 68.88
16.1	Khan to Tamim Iqbal, no run, kicks up a bit and he fends it off to the off side
End of over 16 (1 run) Bangladesh 58/2 Mohammad Ashraful 0* (4b) I Sharma 5-1-14-1 Tamim Iqbal 31* (43b 6x4) Z Khan 8-1-31-1
15.6	Sharma to Mohammad Ashraful, no run, full on middle and leg, he turns his wrists and he clips it to midwicket
15.5	Sharma to Mohammad Ashraful, no run, tries to defend but gets a thick inside edge onto his pads
15.4	Sharma to Mohammad Ashraful, no run, keeps it on the off stump and he pushes it back to the bowler with soft hands
15.3	Sharma to Mohammad Ashraful, no run, makes him play straightaway, clipped towards midwicket and thinks of a single
That will come as a big relief for India. Ashraful walks in
15.2	Sharma to Shahriar Nafees, OUT, double-strike for India! Lovely good length delivery on middle stump, Shahriar should have been playing straight but he angled his bat and squared himself up, thick edge goes to Laxman at second slip
	Shahriar Nafees c Laxman b Sharma 4 (5m 3b 1x4 0x6) SR: 133.33
15.1	Sharma to Tamim Iqbal, 1 run, full and wide outside off and slashed away but sweeper cover's there
End of over 15 (4 runs) Bangladesh 57/1 Shahriar Nafees 4* (2b 1x4) Z Khan 8-1-31-1 Tamim Iqbal 30* (42b 6x4) I Sharma 4-1-13-0
14.6	Khan to Shahriar Nafees, FOUR, he wants to get into business straightaway, he swivels to club a short delivery towards the body, wasn't in full control of the hook but well clear of any fielder, it rolls to deep square leg
14.5	Khan to Shahriar Nafees, no run, on target, on middle and off and he gets bat on ball
Shahriar Nafees walks in, he has a ponytail these days
14.4	Khan to Imrul Kayes, OUT, this time he gets the target, Zaheer pitches it fuller and gets it to angle inwards, Kayes repeats the shot from two balls before - trying to whip it across the line - and the ball hits his pads in line with leg stump, no doubt for Bowden this time
	Imrul Kayes lbw b Khan 23 (69m 46b 5x4 0x6) SR: 50.00
14.3	Khan to Imrul Kayes, no run, comes back in and he leaves it alone
14.2	Khan to Imrul Kayes, no run, appeal for a leg before! Gets forward to work it across the line and the ball hits the back leg, perhaps outside the line of off stump, Bowden shakes his head
14.1	Khan to Imrul Kayes, no run, good delivery, lands on the off stump and moves away slightly, beats the forward prod
End of over 14 (5 runs) Bangladesh 53/0 Tamim Iqbal 30* (42b 6x4) I Sharma 4-1-13-0 Imrul Kayes 23* (42b 5x4) Z Khan 7-1-27-0
Srinivasan: "I feel no shame in rooting for Bangladesh despite being an Indian. Arrogance (even if it was meant to be frankness by a person known for his direct-ness) never pays. It is not beyond Bangladesh to impose their own Tony Greig "We will make them grovel" moment on Virender Sehwag's supercilious side. Go Tigers. Make the Indians fight."
13.6	Sharma to Tamim Iqbal, FOUR, cracks that away, that sounded good, lands it short and gets it to angle across further, rolls his wrists and whacks it wide of point, that's the 50 stand
13.5	Sharma to Tamim Iqbal, no run, keeps it outside the off stump and gets away movement to the keeper, well left again
13.4	Sharma to Imrul Kayes, 1 run, drifts on the pads and he clips him wide of square leg
13.3	Sharma to Imrul Kayes, no run, keeps it on a good length outside off and he gets his front pad across and lets it go
13.2	Sharma to Imrul Kayes, no run, comes over the wicket, lands outside the off stump and he safely lets it go
13.1	Sharma to Imrul Kayes, no run, gets across and taps him to the off side

Shafiul Islam included for India Tests

	The rookie Shafiul Islam has been included for the two Tests against India at home © Associated Press
Related Links Players/Officials: Mashrafe Mortaza | Shafiul Islam | Shahriar Nafees | Shakib Al Hasan Series/Tournaments: India tour of Bangladesh Teams: Bangladesh

Shakib Al Hasan will continue to lead the Bangladesh Test side for the two-match series against India in the absence of Mashrafe Mortaza, who still has not recovered from a knee injury. Mortaza had also missed the ongoing tri-series despite being named in the preliminary squad.

There were no major surprises in the 14-man squad for the series as the selectors opted for nearly the same set of players who toured the West Indies last July and swept the series 2-0. Fast bowler Shafiul Islam, who made his international debut in the ongoing tri-series, is the only player in the squad without Test experience.

Besides Mortaza, allrounder Mehrab Hossain jnr and reserve wicketkeeper Saghir Hossain were left out from the squad which had gone to the West Indies. Opener Shahriar Nafees earned a Test recall after quitting ties with the Indian Cricket League. Nafees is the fourth opener in the squad besides Tamim Iqbal, Imrul Kayes and Junaid Siddique.

The first Test starts on January 17 in Chittagong.

Squad: Shakib Al Hasan (capt), Mushfiqur Rahim (vice-capt/wk), Tamim Iqbal, Imrul Kayes, Junaid Siddique, Mohammad Ashraful, Raqibul Hasan, Mahmudullah, Shahriar Nafees, Shahadat Hossain, Rubel Hossain, Enamul Haque jnr, Mahbubul Alam, Shafiul Islam.

MS Dhoni hits back at Ian Chappell's comments

	India's bowling was lukewarm in the tri-series, not least during the final which they surrendered to Sri Lanka © Associated Press
Related Links News : MS Dhoni eyes more Tests to maintain supremacy Players/Officials: Ian Chappell | MS Dhoni | Kumar Sangakkara Series/Tournaments: India tour of Bangladesh Teams: India

MS Dhoni has hit back at the comments of Ian Chappell, who this week said that India do not have the resources to retain their No.1 spot in the ICC Test rankings for a long enough period to emulate Australia and the great West Indies teams of the past. Chappell, the former Australian captain and leading commentator, had said on Time Out, Cricinfo's new fortnightly audio show, that India's batting alone will not sustain them and to do so they will have to unearth a couple of champion bowlers.

Dhoni, however, termed Chappell's assessment an unfair and unnecessarily harsh one. "It is not a fair statement. I agree that our bowlers are struggling now. But we have become the Test number one also because of the bowlers and not only due to our batting," he said after India's loss to Sri Lanka in the final of the recent tri-series in Bangladesh.

"Sometimes batsmen struggle and sometimes bowlers. It is not fair to say that we don't have good bowlers. We will prove it [that we can sustain the No. 1 Test ranking]."

Sri Lankan captain Kumar Sangakkara echoed Dhoni's views on India's pace attack. "India has top-class bowlers. Zaheer [Khan] is one of the best fast bowlers in the world and Harbhajan [Singh] is top class," he said. "Even Sreesanth can bowl reverse swing. There are always critics and doubters but it is your job to prove them wrong."

India stay on in Bangladesh to contest a two-Test series against the hosts starting January 17 in Chittagong. India bagged the top ranking from Australia after beating Sri Lanka 2-0 in the three-Test series at home last month. India jumped from No. 3 to No.1 for first time since the rankings came into place in May 2001.