Whatmore wary of SA comeback
21 Oct 2013 6:09 AM IST
Pakistan won the first Test in Abu Dhabi by seven wickets on Thursday, but Whatmore recalled a personal experience of South Africa’s resilience when he was the coach of Sri Lanka in 2000/2001.
‘This South African unit is quite resilient,’ said Whatmore on Sunday. ‘I’ve had a first hand experience in Sri Lanka where they lost by an innings in Galle and came back to win in Kandy,’ said Whamore of the series in Sri Lanka.
‘I think there was a drawn game in Colombo so it was 1-1 series, so you leave them off at your peril.’ South Africa’s unbeaten run away from home since losing to Sri Lanka in 2006 is also under threat and Whatmore said Pakistan will do their best to win. ‘Well 1-0 is just as good as I think because a hard fought draw is also very important for any team, having been 1-0 up in the series, but we enter the game to win,’ said Whatmore.
Whatmore, who played seven Tests and one limited overs international for Australia, refused to agree that Pakistan’s win was an upset.
‘I wasn’t surprised we did well, people leading up to this series in Pakistan were eluding to the fact that we lost against Zimbabwe.’
‘This South African unit is quite resilient,’ said Whatmore on Sunday. ‘I’ve had a first hand experience in Sri Lanka where they lost by an innings in Galle and came back to win in Kandy,’ said Whamore of the series in Sri Lanka.
‘I think there was a drawn game in Colombo so it was 1-1 series, so you leave them off at your peril.’ South Africa’s unbeaten run away from home since losing to Sri Lanka in 2006 is also under threat and Whatmore said Pakistan will do their best to win. ‘Well 1-0 is just as good as I think because a hard fought draw is also very important for any team, having been 1-0 up in the series, but we enter the game to win,’ said Whatmore.
Whatmore, who played seven Tests and one limited overs international for Australia, refused to agree that Pakistan’s win was an upset.
‘I wasn’t surprised we did well, people leading up to this series in Pakistan were eluding to the fact that we lost against Zimbabwe.’
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