Steyn cranks it up on return to practice

[G_B_]

Just about the only common event – or non-event, if you like – surrounding the Indian and South African practice sessions on Friday (February 20) was the absence of any official interaction with the media. Anything but unusual so far as the Indians are concerned, slightly out of character and maybe a direct reaction to the Indian silence from a South African perspective. AB de Villiers’s men hit the Melbourne Cricket Ground in the morning for what was a regulation, full-strength session. Dale Steyn, all concerns about his health having dissipated, cranked it up at the practice nets, sparing neither friend nor friend – no foes here, all teammates etc – but most of his colleagues were up for the challenge. In one corner, Mike Hussey, the newest consultant in the Protean ranks, was huddled alongside Faf du Plessis, one of several danger men in a South African top six of explosive proportions. Du Plessis is one of those gifted batsmen capable effortlessly of slipping from format to format without breaking stride; he needed an infusion of confidence as much as anything else, given that late last year, he had a poor One-Day International series in Australia when five games yielded a mere 97 runs. Not to worry, he was in good hands. Hands were a little bit of a problem for de Villiers. Hand, rather. Or right thumb, to be more specific. South Africa’s captain sustained a minor injury during slip catching drills, but there is little that can keep AB down. After a soak in ice, the finger was ready for battle. De Villiers batted untroubled in the nets. No respite for India there. India’s session was generally unremarkable, an extension of what they did on Wednesday afternoon as they hit the Junction Oval in St Kilda around 1.30 pm and stayed on till nearly 5.30 pm. Once again, the centre pitch was the preferred surface, the nets outside the playing area used only sparingly. Unlike on Wednesday, when Mahendra Singh Dhoni hit the ball long and handsome, his was a more confined stint on Friday; instead, Rohit Sharma took the big-hitting role upon himself, striking out lustily and sending the assembled media corps occasionally scrambling for cover. There was an extended fielding session with R Sridhar, the fielding coach, putting the players through a rigorous pick-up-and-throw, then run backwards and pouch skiers, routine. On a gloriously sunny day with no clouds and a stiff breeze, judging trajectory wasn’t easy but you wouldn’t have guessed, seeing the quality of the catching. There were no injury scares – thankfully, the team might say, also because there was no scope of making a mountain out of a molehill – and the only slice of excitement came a little before the end when three gentlemen in green tees commandeered Mohammed Shami to privacy. Or relative privacy, as it turned out. The Indian paceman, one of the stars in Adelaide during the 76-run win over Pakistan when he took 4 for 35, was the day’s pick for a random drugs test. All routine, hardly cloak-and-dagger, but on a quiet day when no one picked up a fight with anyone and when the charm of Junction Oval and Shane Warne had faded somewhat, it was quite the most notable development. Away from the cricket, Bashir — a Pakistani from Chicago – enjoyed his moment in the sun. Wearing a tee with ‘Dhoni, Love u’ emblazoned at the front and the back, he savoured attention both from the attendant media personnel and from members of the Indian team who all signed on the sleeves of his tee. His highlight of the day, a pair of Oakleys gifted by Suresh Raina as the players trooped into the team bus.

http://www.wisdenindia.com/cricket-news/steyn-cranks-return-practice/149802

[Forever Indian]

Does this mean Rohit at no.4 and Rahane opening for SA game?

[G_B_]

if anything it means Rohit opens right? to take advantage of the field in the first 10

[govinda]

styen:nervous:

[BlueBee]

Dhoni:woot:

[Zelig]

Chucker :headshake:

[adi B]

steyn's odi record against india has been superb.he has been disappointing in the recent past so he'll be charged up to prove his class

[randomGuy]

Does this mean Rohit at no.4 and Rahane opening for SA game?

Should happen. The idea of Rohit opening against steyn, morkel in aust. doesn't inspire confidence.

[zen]

After seeing what Southee did to Eng, I hope Steyn does not come up with similar performance vs. Ind :nervous:

[Sandeep99]

Rohit to hit another ton at the G.. I can't wait for youtube highlights

[fineleg]

Rohit Kurma will tell Steyn to "come to India and we will serve your Kurma there". This Nohit Nonsense will do nothing except an ugly hoick to get out.

[G_B_]

Rohit Kurma will tell Steyn to "come to India and we will serve your Kurma there". This Nohit Nonsense will do nothing except an ugly hoick to get out.

what will rayadu say finny?

[coffee_rules]

Rohit will do fine. He played v good against Australia in ODIs. It is Dhawan I am worried about, he should end up giving catch practice.

[sourab10forever]

Rohit must open.It wont click if he bats at 4