South African team arrives in Chennai
The South African team arrived this morning for its first Test match against India beginning on March 26.
By INDIATIMES CRICKET |
CHENNAI: The South African team arrived this morning for its first Test match against India beginning on March 26.
The players arrived at the international airport by an Emirates flight from Dubai around 9 am and were soon escorted to their hotel in luxury coaches.
Tight security arrangements were made at the airport. The Indian team members are arriving in batches. Virender Sehwag and bowling coach Venkatesh Prasad arrived last night while others would be reaching on Saturday.
South Africa will play three Test matches against India with Ahmedabad (April 3-7) and Kanpur (April 11-15) hosting the last two matches.
However, South Africa captain Graeme Smith said on Friday that recent selection controversies had taken their toll on team at a news conference shortly before leaving for a three-Test tour of India.
"The evidence of this week shows that the off-field stuff does have an effect on the team," Smith said. "There are a few things we need to work through, they can't be left undealt with. We need to find a way to deal with these issues so we can concentrate on the cricket."
Meanwhile, the speculation surrounding off-spinner Harbhajan Singh and ODI captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni's fitness ended as the Cricket Board on Friday said the duo has recovered from injuries and would be available for the three-Test series against South Africa starting next week.
While Harbhajan was nursing a left hamstring injury, Dhoni was recuperating from a sprain in the fourth finger of his right hand picked up during the tour of Australia.
However, both of them on Friday cleared the fitness Test conducted by physiotherapist Paul Close in Bangalore.
The players arrived at the international airport by an Emirates flight from Dubai around 9 am and were soon escorted to their hotel in luxury coaches.
Tight security arrangements were made at the airport. The Indian team members are arriving in batches. Virender Sehwag and bowling coach Venkatesh Prasad arrived last night while others would be reaching on Saturday.
South Africa will play three Test matches against India with Ahmedabad (April 3-7) and Kanpur (April 11-15) hosting the last two matches.
However, South Africa captain Graeme Smith said on Friday that recent selection controversies had taken their toll on team at a news conference shortly before leaving for a three-Test tour of India.
"The evidence of this week shows that the off-field stuff does have an effect on the team," Smith said. "There are a few things we need to work through, they can't be left undealt with. We need to find a way to deal with these issues so we can concentrate on the cricket."
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Meanwhile, the speculation surrounding off-spinner Harbhajan Singh and ODI captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni's fitness ended as the Cricket Board on Friday said the duo has recovered from injuries and would be available for the three-Test series against South Africa starting next week.
While Harbhajan was nursing a left hamstring injury, Dhoni was recuperating from a sprain in the fourth finger of his right hand picked up during the tour of Australia.
However, both of them on Friday cleared the fitness Test conducted by physiotherapist Paul Close in Bangalore.
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