Cullinan bats for India

Daryll Cullinan can easily be listed as one of South Africa's most successful batsmen in the nineties. A very stylish batsman in his own special way, Cullinan amassed more than 4000 Test runs at an average of over 45. He also represented South Africa in more than 135 ODIs. Here, he speaks about the young South African side coming to India for the Future Cup Series and previews the series.

South Africa be travelling to India and they look up to you for inspiration because of your knock of 153 which helped them win their first major Test here in India…
Yes, but I think the South African side at the moment is inexperienced, a lot of players have toured India before and they will be aware of the conditions. But for the younger guys like AB de Villiers and (Hashim) Amla it’s going to be a tougher tour. It is going to be very important for them to adjust as India are riding high at the moment and are confident after just beating Australia. So, I think they (South Africa) will look within their team and their coach, Mickey Arthur, who has got a massive role to play. He has never really played here or toured here much so it looks like South Africa will have to be very smart, but lately they have been starting off slowly in the first Test losing it, and India, after having gone one-up in South Africa and having lost the series, would want to make it different this time. So it is going to be tough for South Africa.

What are the strengths of this South African side?
Look, they are a good side; India will be mistaken to underestimate them. With the likes Steyn and Morkel upfront, (it will be good for them)... I'm disappointed that Nel is not coming because he would have posed a few problems for the Indian batsmen. It is got to be seen how Harris goes, he is the key with the ball. If he can do the job for Graeme Smith and tie one end up, it will keep South Africa in the game. If he can’t, their pacers are really going to struggle. So I think its going to come down to their batting to keep them in the race in terms of trying to get a result. India are going to start out as favourites as they have got the experience. (Seniors like) Graeme Smith, Jacques Kallis and Gibbs who have generally played well out here, are going to be a little bit demoralised with all the selection rows and race issues. So I think if India can’t beat them in India then they have got some major problems. They should beat South Africa.|

Do you think dropping Andre Nel and Herschelle Gibbs is a right move?
Gibbs has battled lately in Test cricket; well, obviously the coach can’t get him right although he is trying to. Yes, it is a mistake to drop Nel now but those are issues that are out of our hands. It has weakened the side in my opinion.

Big challenge for Peterson and Harris?
Huge challenge! Peterson, as his track records says, is not good enough to be bowling in international cricket. He is a transformation selection and that’s the truth. Harris is a competitive guy, he gets a bit of bounce and he is tall. He bowled well against India in South Africa and to me, is very important for South Africa.

So do you think the South African batters have to be much more cautious this time?
They have got to be a lot better, they are going to have to get bigger hundreds now and have to be on top of their game without a doubt.

Jacques Kallis and Boucher’s experience will be a huge benefit?
Yes, and it’s also the knowledge and how they play. That is going to be critical. They carry the side in many ways with Smith. So those three are vital with the bat.

And your take on Anil Kumble? He is India’s leading wicket-taker with over 600 hundred wickets.
Yes, Anil is a good cricket friend. I have always respected his cricket and have utmost admiration for the way he has played the game. The strength India has is they have options. For the first time in a long time they have got depth in their side, they have got some pace, they have got spin, they have an experienced batting line-up, and a wicket-keeper batsman who is of international class. They have just got everything going for them at the moment, so I say it’s going to be mighty strange if they can’t win this series.

And are you impressed with Kumble’s leadership skills, because he handled India in a very professional manner in Australia?
Yeah, you sense that the players respect him; you sense that the players acknowledge him as the leader and he is a great calm, level-headed guy. He is a gentleman. I have always liked Anil. He has changed the trend a bit because generally bowlers don’t make good captains but with what India are producing and Dhoni doing the one-day job, if they are winning then that is not an issue and that is the major thing you have got to get in place. If you are winning then there are generally not many problems.

In the recent times we have seen that South African bowlers are bowling quick, they are bowling short, bowling bouncers, so they are able to create fear in the batsman’s mind. But the Indian pitches being on the slower side, do you think they should still go on with the same tactics?
Well no one has come here and beaten India with spin, no one. The one year that we won here, we won here with pace. You look at Tendulkar’s record against South Africa in India. I think he averages early 40s. They have got the pace in Morkel and Steyn, I would have liked if Nel would have been there as there would have been even more confidence. Even Australia couldn’t beat India with Warne in their side so it is going to come down to pace. You need bowlers who can bowl two lengths. Ntini is not fit. If Ntini, Morkel and Steyn are fit and are running in, then South Africa have a chance. They have to attack India with pace.

So do you think picking early wickets is the only chance, because their middle order is established with an experience of over ten years?
Well we bounced them out with an old ball as well. We just bowled two lengths at the back and bored them down. You are not going to beat India any other way even in India.

You've have played a lot with Gary Kirsten and now he is the coach of the Indian team. So is it a big asset for the Indians?
I think it will be, he has never coached a team, and I think he is in for a huge surprise, but he is an astute cricketer. I'm sure he is not intrusive in his methods. He has worked with what he has got and he is going to be under enormous pressure but I am confident he is going to do a good job.

What are his plus points?
I think his understanding of the game. He is a student of the game, he has played, he has worked hard to get to the top, and he has recently retired so he knows a lot of the players he has played with and against. So he can assess them well. He has played around the world, his work ethic is one of the best, he is a good thinker of the game and he is a likeable guy.

South Africa have just wrapped the Bangladesh series which was an ODI series. So do you think again getting back into the Test groove would be difficult?
Well, going by their recent track record, yes. They lost to India, they lost to West Indies at home in the first Test so yes they will have to battle with that. But I think the time spent in Bangladesh will make it a lot easier for them, to adjust coming to India.

One final question, what are your predictions?
I think it will be an India series win. I would be disappointed if they don’t do that. I will be very pleased for South Africa if they win. I think if they finish off with a drawn series, that is a win for them. So I think they have to work hard to make sure they don’t lose the series first and foremost. I mean it’s a tough South African side. They won't just get bogged down and take a beating from India.