Great opportunity for SA to beat Australia, says Kirsten

Rajkot: Gary Kirsten, the former South African batsman, who played 101 Tests and 185 ODIs between 1993 and 2004, who has just guided the Indian team to a 2-0 defeat over the Australians in the capacity of India coach, has said South Africa has a great opportunity to beat the Aussies when they travel Down Under later this year.

Commenting on the Australian team, which has lost a few of its star players to retirement, Kirsten told the Cape Argus, “Australia is in a natural life cycle… they have had a good dose of time with a very experienced, highly skilled team. Players have retired, with places filled by inexperienced players and Australia has come back into the pack a little bit.”

He said South Africa, who beat England in their previous Test series in England, has a great chance to beat Australia. He said, “South Africa has a real chance of doing something special against Australia this summer. It is one of their better chances, with Australia without players like Warne, McGrath, and Gilchrist. It is up to South Africa to make the most of the opportunity.”

Kirsten also said South Africa had the team to get the better of the inexperienced Australian lineup. He said, “Neil McKenzie, Hashim Amla, and Ashwell Prince are starting to score quite regularly. The champion Jacques Kallis will come back to form, I have no doubt, and you have the world-class Graeme Smith.

“South Africa has probably the best seam bowling attack in the world at the moment, with Makhaya Ntini or Andre Nel to back up Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel.”

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