Centurion, Dec 16: All the hype surrounding the contest between Dale Steyn and Virender Sehwag ended in less than three minutes as the South African paceman got the better of the audacious Indian opener. Steyn also added the wickets of Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman to take his day’s tally to three at the end of Day 1 at SuperSport Park.
In an end-of-day media interaction Steyn said that the South African unit had to bowl in the right areas to extract the best from the track – a task he and his teammates stuck to yield rich results.
Excerpts from the press conference.
On getting Virender Sehwag out for naught
Yeah, I actually forgot that I had a third man and I was cursing [to lament the oversight] and then all of a sudden there was a catch. You need one or two soft wickets to get your day going. I think I was lucky enough to get him up-front.
On dismissing Sachin Tendulkar
Yeah, it was massive. I could say that I made him wait but I didn’t. It was a good ball but again, the wicket helped me out a little bit. You know, to get somebody like him is always a pleasure.
On claiming the wicket of VVS Laxman
Another good ball, I think. It is one of the common balls that I bowl - the one that shapes away. And on this wicket if you don’t get your feet forward, you are going to be in trouble.
On the bouncy track at the Centurion
Well you can talk about the bounce as much as you can, but at the end of the day, on a wicket like this, if you can’t get the balls in the right areas, then it won’t help. None of the wickets came through short-pitched bowling. It was just good planning at the end of the day.
On the delayed start
Well, I was on my way to breakfast when I was told that the ground was under water, so there [was] no point [in expecting a scheduled start] and [that] for some time we could remain in our room and that is what we all did. And then all of a sudden we were [in the thick of the action].
On his comeback into the side
I was out of the game for a long time so it was nice to get back in South Africa and get the ball to swing and bounce. I am happy to be in South Africa.
On South Africa seizing the advantage on Day 1
Look, I suppose so. Maybe the wicket was such that it was always going to do something. But today made me realise that little things can make a huge difference. [Paul] Harris standing in the slips for the first time and taking a great catch and then [Mark] Boucher getting that run out - you know things that can actually turn the game. So I think [it’s been] a great effort by Morne [Morkel] and I also got a couple of wickets. A good day overall for South Africa.
