South African coach Corrie van Zyl on Wednesday said a bigger challenge lies for his side in the second cricket Test in Kolkata as he expects a turning pitch at the Eden Gardens to suit the home team after their humiliating defeat in the first match here.
"I won't say (I expect) a minefield. We will see what it looks like when we get there, but I expect something that's going to help the Indian team obviously. I think it will help the Indian spinners, but I need to go to Kolkata and see," van Zyl told reporters at the VCA stadium in Jamtha.
"We need to be well prepared for second Test. If the first Test was a challenge the second Test is going to be an even bigger challenge. Mentally this South African team is better prepared, that's the most important part. But it's still going to be a challenge dealing with the turning wickets and whatever the wicket is," he added.
Asked if he expects a square turner like the one in Kanpur in 2008 after South Africa had defeated India by an innings in the previous Test in Ahmedabad, van Zyl said he would prefer a pitch that would provide a good contest between the two teams.
"I would hope so (spin-friendly). I was not part of that tour. I hope it will still be a good cricket contest, a wicket where we can play good cricket, both sides," he said.
He said that there was no change in his team's strategy even when they knew the hosts were weakened by the absence of Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman and Yuvraj Singh. PTI
