South Africa’s lanky fast bowler Duanne Olivier has opined that bowling to Virat Kohli will be tough but exciting at the same time. Kohli hasn’t been in the best of forms in the recent past and he would aim to make a solid comeback in the Test series against South Africa. India’s Test captain has also been involved in a recent controversy with BCCI regarding his ODI captaincy and he would aim to prove his mettle.
Kohli was the leading run-getter in the previous Test series against South Africa as he had scored 286 runs in three Test matches at an impressive average of 47.67 in the 2017-18 tour. In fact, Kohli was the solitary batter who could score a century in the Test series. Thus, he will look to replicate the same success in the South African conditions.
On the other hand, Anrich Nortje has been ruled out of the Test series due to a hip injury and thus Duanne Olivier is expected to get his chances. Oliver has been in red-hot form in the four-day Franchise series as he has scalped 28 wickets at an average of 11.14 with 9 for 95 being his best in a game.
Olivier has thus far played 10 Test matches for the Proteas in which he has snared 48 wickets at an impressive average of 19.2. The lanky fast bowler has returned back to South Africa earlier in the year after his Kolpak stint.
Thus, it is expected to be a good contest between Virat Kohli and Duanne Olivier in the upcoming series.
“This will be the biggest series of my career against world-class players and it’s an exciting challenge. I need to bowl to Virat Kohli. It will be tough but it will also be exciting. I will probably be bowling to one of the top four batters in world cricket,” Oliver spoke to Cricket South Africa’s media wing.
“For me, it will be like making a statement to them that we are here to compete and are not going to roll over. For me, it’s very important to start that first punch,” Oliver added.
The fast bowler feels the home side will need to use their own conditions to their advantage. Olivier reckons some grass will be shaved off before the opening Test.
“We need to use conditions to our advantage. We can’t get carried away. It might seam and might have bounce. I reckon some grass will be shaved. With a lot of rain being forecast, it’s not ideal for preparation,” Oliver assessed.
The first Test match will be played at Centurion from December 26.
