Steve Smith:<\/b> Australia veteran batter Steve Smith said he was \"taken aback\" after seeing the pitch at St George's Park for the second Test against South Africa, starting Sunday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Speaking to Mark Howard on Kayo Sports after the toss, the former Aussie skipper stated that the Gqeberha pitch looked green with a \"little bit of damp\" and was \"taken aback\" after learning that the groundsman did not use the hessian cover to protect and manage the pitch.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\"It looks to be a bit of grass on it, to be fair. Bit of grass, a little bit damp, actually,\" Smith said before the start of the play.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\"So I just actually spoke to the groundsman. He, I said, do you not use a hessian? And he's like, nah, do for morning games in one-day cricket. But I actually like to see a little bit of moisture in the morning. So I was, yeah, taken aback by that.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\"I don't think I've seen that before. But no, it looks like it's got some grass. Could be interesting, particularly with the overheads as well,\" he added.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Australia won the toss and brought in Scott Boland for Nathan Lyon, opting for an all-four-pace attack, although the visitors have several part-time spin options.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Speaking on the conditions at the venue, Smith opined that the surface would seemingly help the pacers more than the spinners. \"Yeah, could be a handful. I've never played this time of year. When we've played in February, March, it's end of the season. The square's usually a lot drier. Wicket's a bit drier and does take some spin.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\"You know, with a bit of rain forecast for the next couple of days, you know, it might not get as much foot traffic as well. So spin may not play as big a part as it traditionally does here. But we'll wait and see,\" he added.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Lyon missed out on playing a red-ball game for Australia for the first time since 2013, whenever he has been available.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\"You know, with a bit of rain forecast for the next couple of days, you know, it might not get as much foot traffic as well. So spin may not play as big a part as it traditionally does here. But we'll wait and see,\" he added.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Also Read: <\/b> Special Cricket Stories<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n