IPL IS INDIA’S HELL

PROTEAS coach Shukri Conrad believes his inexperienced Test span will not be overawed by the occasion of facing India at Eden Gardens in the first Test on Friday due to their involvement in the IPL.

Eight members of the Proteas Test squad  have never played a Test in India before. However, five of the lot, namely Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, Marco Jansen, Dewald Brevis and Corbin Bosch, have all sampled the IPL with their respective franchises over the last few years.

Conrad believes the IPL experience will benefit his players both on and off the field.

Conrad wysed: “I think because our guys are comfortable in the environment, they’re comfortable with the opposition they play against because of their involvement in the IPL. I certainly believe that it does make it slightly easier for us to adapt to conditions. It’s not foreign to a lot of these guys and certainly the opposition aren’t foreign.

“I’m expecting an evenly-fought contest. It’s still going to be helluva difficult. But we’re quite confident that we can make history of our own here and even go on to win in India.”

Conrad also feels that his manne are better equipped than ever to front up to the Indian challenge due to the spinners the Proteas have at their disposal in Keshav Maharaj, Simon Harmer and Senuran Muthusamy.

He added: “I think previously, and this is not saying we didn’t have good spinners in the past, but we certainly think we’ve got a better pack now.”