Former South African coach is not going to coach the Indian side but he sure has a few notes to give to the Indian players before their key game against Sri Lanka at the Wanderers in Johannesburg -- the venue for the final of the World Cup. He predicts that India should beat the Lankans easy.
SRI LANKA:
Muthiah Muralitharan: His is the real threat. His exaggerated spin is tough. You have to get through that period once that is done then you can get a large total. Take a leaf from the Australian gameplan against Murali, they used their feet and smashed him out of the park. It is important to come out to him and smash him out of the park and out of the attack. India is so adept to playing spin, they should be able to handle that.
Dilhara Fernando: Be careful of his sharp bounce. The way he got Ponting out with a snorter was a pointer. Essentially India has the firepower to do it.
Marvan Atapattu: Bowl tight lines to him as he loves to drive, also very good square of the wicket. Don't give him too much to drive.
Mahela Jayawardene: They must keep it very tight against him. He is out of form and they should keep him out of form.
INDIA:
Sachin Tendulkar: He does not need a coach. He will have to deal with Chaminda Vaas who is bowling well. Watch out for that inswinger. Don't get too square on, open the stance and allow the ball to come into you so there is no LBW chance, play straight, don't get caught in slips, don't play towards extra cover unless off the back foot.
Virender Sehwag: He should just spend more time getting in. He is opening the innings so he has time so spend 6-7 overs and then let his natural game start. Look for the singles, look to rotate the strike, give the strike to Tendulkar and don't look to hit fours. He is looking to hit fours all the time and making mistakes. His feet aren't moving well early so he should get a good look at the ball.
Sourav Ganguly: After a hundred, he should be more confident. He and Rahul Dravid had to stay put and guide India to victory against Kenya after three quick wicket went down. Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery and today is a gift that is why it is called the present. So it is very important to concentrate on what you are doing today and give it your best.
Mohammad Kaif: In one-day cricket it is funny because whatever be the case you have to get on with it. He needs to watch the ball and get his front foot out of the way and play with the bat. Make sure he uses both his hands to play his shots and make sure he is comfortable with what he is doing. He is a good player going through a rough patch; not easy to get out of in a World Cup situation. But he is a great fielder much in the mould of Jonty Rhodes. Maybe Yuvraj Singh should come up the order and Kaif should go in at six. When that happens then you can just come in and number six and hit the ball and get some form back.
Rahul Dravid: He is a very good player but at the moment looks a bit tense. He is planting his foot too far across the line of the ball. He should be a bit calmer and get next to the ball instead of in front of it so he does not play around it. He is a good player but the problem is that when you have to keep wickets it is not so easy.
Dinesh Mongia: He needs few more options with the shots he plays. He should watch the ball closely, using his feet, coming down and clearing long on and long off. Not playing too square off the wicket early on. When you are looking to hit ones you don't get them. It is when you hit the ball well that you get runs and singles.
Javagal Srinath: He is old enough to know where to bowl. He is an experienced campaigner. All the seamers look very good and I think India look good for the semi-finals.
Harbhajan Singh: He is a class bowler and he has a part to play on any surface.
Anil Kumble: Is a good bowler but hasn't played much. He is not a great turner of the ball -- his googly turns more than his legspinner -- he is more an inswing bowler so batsmen will look to play him inside out towards square. India should use him differently; set a straighter field and make him pitch middle and get batsmen to hit the ball down the ground. He should not be used as a legspinner with a conventional leg side field but more as an inswing bowler.
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