Alviro worried about Proteas prep

WHILE most of the Proteas Test players are still in India, most of the Australian players are fully focused on the World Test Championship final that is about three weeks away.

- ONGAMA GCWABE

For a host of different reasons, the Pro-teas players cannot simply withdraw from the Indian Premier League as easily as the Australian players have, including fast bowler Mitchell Starc, who did not return to join the Delhi Capitals last week.

However, one would imagine that the Aus-tralians are covering vital ground in terms of preparations for the final, while key South African players are still in T20 mode in India.

With the glaring differences in preparation between the two sides, the concern is more on the Proteas batting unit, compared to what is an experienced bowling attack led by Kagiso Rabada.

The SA team will only assemble in Arundel on May 31, which means that, apart from Kyle Verreynne and David Bedingham, who are currently playing county cricket, some of the Proteas batters will have had just a little over a week to prepare for the final.

Former Proteas opening batter Alviro Petersen, having been in the 2012 squad that won the Test mace in England, told Independ-ent Media that South Africa's preparation is not ideal heading into what is the biggest Test match of their careers.

“Well, it’s certainly not ideal,” said Petersen.

“South Africa’s batting line-up, that’s what concerns me, considering you're playing in England.