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Kepler takes on old partner
18/12/2007 21:37 - (SA)
Christo Buchner, Beeld
East London - Former Australian opening batsmen Kepler Wessels and John Dyson will enjoy some sort of cricket reunion at Buffalo Park here on Wednesday.
But unlike the times when they were batting partners, they will be in opposite camps when the four-day match between the West Indies and the South African A team gets under way.
Dyson coaches the Windies and Wessels, who also captained South Africa during his long career, is in charge of the local side.
"It should be a few interesting days," Dyson predicted here on Tuesday.
It will be a first opportunity for Wessels to coach the SA A side. He was, however, in charge of the SA Emerging XI that did so well in Australia earlier this year.
The players were highly complimentary of his work after that tour.
Regular A team coach Vincent Barnes, who is also assistant coach and bowling coach of the national team, has apparently asked to be given a break ahead of the Test series against the Windies.
"There is at least some continuity because I worked with several of these players during the Emerging team's tour," Wessels said on Tuesday.
Harder to achieve
"This A team is a good one and we'll try everything to beat the Windies. But it will be harder to achieve than it was against New Zealand.
"Against the Windies you have to be patient, whether batting or bowling.
"You know they will give you opportunities by bowling loose deliveries from time to time. And their batsmen also give your bowlers a chance because they often play loose shots.
"That's why I believe patience will be the watchword against them. You just have to wait; your chance will come," Wessels said.
He also believes the visitors' bowling attack holds great dangers and can do much damage.
For the players in his team, he said, the match presented a golden opportunity to move closer to the national team.
"That in itself will be enough motivation for them to do their very best," he added.
Dyson was unwilling to reveal the likely composition of his team but the Windies are expected to field largely their Test side.
"I think we'll be able to get eleven players together," Dyson said with a smile.
* Barnes has signed a new contract with Cricket SA and will stay on as assistant coach and bowling coach of the Proteas.
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