South Africa's double-edged sword

Ian Chappell

Pollack
Pollock is lively, accurate and shrewd. Donald is a wicket-taking battering ram and he's quick, but not as accurate as Pollock. Openers won't get many loose deliveries, so placing the ball into the gaps is crucial, but difficult with South Africa's agile fielding. It helps if you're a good back foot player against pace, but beware of the ball that nips back off the pitch - Pollock bowls it well. Any player who commits to the front foot too early against Pollock will find his strike rate dwindling as quickly as a poor investment.

Donald
There will be opportunities for boundaries against Donald, but only players, with nimble footwork will capitalise. The best chance is the short delivery outside off-stump and a good cutter will prosper.

An aggressive opponent can derail Donald's train of thought, but it takes courage and a lot of skill. Get your runs early against Donald or keep wickets intact because if he's bowling to tail enders in the final few overs, the innings could endabruptly.

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