Arthur plans Sehwag attack

Proteas coach plots danger man's downfall

Last updated: 1st April 2008

mickey arthur

Arthur: Wary of Sehwag

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South Africa coach Mickey Arthur has instructed his Proteas seamers to target Virender Sehwag with a barrage of short-pitch deliveries for the remainder of the series.

Sehwag pummelled the tourists' bowling in the drawn first Test at Chennai with a scintillating 319 off 304 balls- the fastest triple century in history, and the second of his career.

Arthur, preparing for the second Test in Ahmedabad, revealed he and his players had analysed Sehwag's innings and have plotted their new plan of attack.

"We had a look at Sehwag's fantastic innings - he cuts the ball very well but we saw he played his first pull shot only after scoring 312," Arthur said.

"So we are planning to target him with short balls on his body, cramp him for space and see how he takes it."

Arthur also rejected claims that his squad are under pressure after failing to win the first Test - insisting he has batsmen and bowlers who are capable of churning out match-winning performances.

Balanced attack

"We have probably taken more positives from the first Test," he said. "The top order has performed and we have bowlers who can take 20 wickets.

"We have played a lot in the sub-continent, we have kept the same top six in the batting order and we are comfortable playing spin bowling.

"We have a very balanced attack including a very good spinner in Paul Harris, who is probably a most underrated bowler."

The South Africa coach is hoping that the Ahmedabad track will offer more assistance to his fast bowlers, unlike the unresponsive surface at Chennai which saw a mammoth 1,498 runs scored at the cost of 25 wickets.

"We will have to wait and watch for the first ball to be bowled on how the wicket is," he said.

"At the moment it looks good with some grass on it. Hopefully the pitch will help the seamers.

"It will be interesting to see how the ball behaves on the lush green outfield or whether it helps reverse swing."