Manchester 24 August : Proteas captain Dean Elgar admits that he expects England to return with the same vengeance in the second test which will start at Old Trafford in Manchester on Thursday, but he has also warned that South Africa’s desire for success is growing.The visitors scored an amazing victory over hosts in the first Test in London which they won by 12 runs and an innings in just three days.
The result made them 1-0 ahead in the series of three matches.
However, regardless of the way of the victory at Lord’s Cricket Ground, the Proteas recognize that their opponents are suffering and desperate to find a way to rectify the damage of their defeat.
“I am sure it will not (go in the same direction),” Elgar told the media during the press conference before the match.
“It’s going be a lot harder knowing that England were injured and I’m sure they’ll come back with an enrage, I think against us.I really hope that we can play another strong match of cricket.I think this gives us the greatest chance of trying and be in the situation of victory.We know that we’ll must start from scratch with a scoreboard that is to nothing and we’ll have to begin by playing pretty well with them.” he said.
Elgar also spoke of the “will to win” spirit in his team, stating that they were not less determined to be winning in this Test as compared to the previous.
“What took place in the very first Test was an amazing experience for us to experience,” he explained.
“We played very solid, sound cricket like we’ve been doing over the last year.I believe our hunger was high and I believe our hunger is still present.I don’t believe it’s going anywhere.We send a clear message with regards to this.We want to be a part of a new brand of cricket that everybody at home and, hopefully, that the rest of the world also enjoys.It’s difficult to predict the future, but I would like to, and I really hope that the next Test will be the same.”
The Proteas bowlers totally blew away England in the first game.everyone contributed to take 20 wickets against the opposition in less than 82.4 overs.Elgar warned that the bowlers – including Kagiso Rabada Anrich Nortje Marco Jansen, Lungi Ngidi – could be even more efficient in Manchester.
“I believe they could be much better.They’re still fairly fresh which is a great thing to have on my perspective.They played a fantastic game, and the wicket clearly helped them out at Lord’s and you have to consider that also,” he said.
“But you must place the ball in the right places and they did it.It leads us back to our initial question about hunger.And I believe that our bowlers lead our group right now They’re extremely determined to succeed.
“The competition between them is fantastic and the manner in which they conduct things is one of the most professional behavior I’ve witnessed from fast bowlers.It’s an excellent benefit to have them at the top of the pack in this manner.You don’t need to talk to them much.They’re just aware of what to do.
“They’ve been on the international scene for a while.This could be a different scene, so they’ll need to adjust to this, but this is a huge asset of ours.”
Elgar was asked about the team that would be the first to play for the game however, he stayed clear of giving names, but said that “consistency is essential to Test cricket, and even consistency in selection”.
“It’s an extremely challenging series to play in a foreign country against England and you must keep your horses that you’ve been backing for quite some time.
All you have to do is provide them with the best tools to try and be successful.Hope it works,” he added.
The Proteas have already won series against England and Ireland on their trip to the United Kingdom, both in the T20 International format.They also won their One-Day International series 1-1 against the world champions England at the beginning of the tour.
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