Anrich Nortje (fake images)
- The Proteas return to action on Monday at the famous Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) against Australia in the second of three Test matches.
- South Africa suffered a six wicket defeat in the first Test and will be looking to bounce back when the two teams take the field on Boxing Day.
- Anrich Nortje wants his teammates to stay focused on the task at hand and not be distracted by the previous result.
Fast bowler Anrich Nortje believes there is nothing surprising about the MCG wicket ahead of Proteas’ highly anticipated second Test against Australia in Melbourne.
Australia defeated South Africa very easily by six wickets in the first of three Tests in Brisbane at the Gabba, where the field was in the spotlight.
For the second fight, which starts on Monday, the 29-year-old Nortje is not worried about the surface.
However, he wants his teammates to focus on the job at hand when South Africa takes the field on Boxing Day at 01:30 SA time.
“We’ll have to wait and see,” Nortje said when asked about the wicket.
“You can’t really get into the story too much, but it seems like good ground in terms of pace and rebound.
“I don’t think there is as much lateral movement as in Brisbane, so hopefully we can stick to the basics.
“I know it’s easy to say, but that’s what we hope to do and use our bouncers as a bowling unit.
“As a bowling unit I don’t think there are massive demons at the wicket. I’ve never played here so I can’t speak from experience but we think it will be a good contest.”
Proteas Test team against Australia:
Dean Elgar (captain, Momentum Multiply Titans), Temba Bavuma (DP World Lions), Gerald Coetzee (ITEC Knights), Theunis de Bruyn (Momentum Multiply Titans), Sarel Erwee (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Simon Harmer (Momentum Multiply Titans), Marco Jansen (Dafabet Warriors), Heinrich Klaasen (Momentum Multiply Titans), Keshav Maharaj (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Lungi Ngidi (Momentum Multiply Titans), Anrich Nortje (Dafabet Warriors), Kagiso Rabada (DP World Lions), Rassie van der Dussen (DP World Lions), Kyle Verreynne (goalie, Six Gun Grill Western Province), Lizaad Williams (Momentum Multiply Titans), Khaya Zondo (Hollywoodbets Dolphins).
Nortje says the first Test could have gone in South Africa’s favour, but they are not worried about the result as they prepare to go head-to-head against Australia again at the MCG.
“When we look back on the last game, it was just a matter of probably half a session, not even a session, and the game could have gone differently and we could have been in a winning position…that’s how quickly things went.” happening,” the pacemaker told the media at the MCG on Saturday.
“So you can’t look at losing by six wickets and say that’s a big margin on that wicket, it could have been a very small margin.
“So it’s hard to say we’re not really focused on the last game, we’re focused on what’s to come now, trying to get ready again.
“Everyone is in a very good space mentally and physically, so we’re looking forward to starting the game now.”
South Africa to Australia Test Trip Itinerary
four day tour party
December 09 – 12: Cricket Australia XI drew with South Africa – The Allan Border Field, Brisbane
Tests
December 17 – 21: Australia beat South Africa by six wickets – The Gabba, Brisbane
December 26 – 30: Australia vs South Africa – MCG, Melbourne
04 – 08 January: Australia vs South Africa – SCG, Sydney
