India to take three pacers to SA as net bowlers

Seamers Ankit Rajput (Uttar Pradesh), Avesh Khan (Madhya Pradesh)and Basil Thampi (Kerala) are likely to travel to South Africa and help India’s preparation for the three Test series.

Kerala’s yorker specialist Basil Thampi (pictured) will be travelling to South Africa as a net bowler.

Seamers Ankit Rajput (Uttar Pradesh), Avesh Khan (Madhya Pradesh)and Basil Thampi (Kerala) are likely to travel to South Africa and help India’s preparation for the three Test series to be played at Newlands, Cape Town; Centurion and The Wanderers, Johannesburg.

India had always had the problems of quality net bowlers on overseas tours which greatly hampered the practice of the batsmen.

On Tuesday, Cricket South Africa stated that India’s two-day tour game ahead of its three-match Test series was cancelled.

The Indians have instead, as per CSA, opted for training sessions on those days.

No official reason was given for the cancellation of the warm-up game but the change in schedule would mean that India will head into the Test series -- starting January 5 in Cape Town -- without a practice match.