RARING TO GO

Winning Test series in Australia pinnacle of cricket: Piedt

by Cricbuzz Staff • Published on

"Whatever my role is for the team, on or off the field, I want to do it to the best of my ability." - Dane Piedt © Cricbuzz

Dane Piedt, South Africa's lead spinner, said that the upcoming tour of Australia would be akin to featuring in a 'World Cup of Test cricket'. The 26-year old bowler loves plying his trade in Tests and hasn't featured for South Africa in any other format of the game, a rarity in modern cricket, especially with Twenty20s (T20s) taking the game by storm.

Under Graeme Smith's able leadership, South Africa beat Australia twice on their own patch in 2008-09 and 2012-13. Piedt reckoned that the visitors' fine record in Australia would serve as a confidence-booster for the youngsters in the camp to perform well.

"I've got good memories of the Proteas playing in Australia," Piedt said on Tuesday (September 13), in an interview with IOL.co.za. "To multiply these feelings, I am now sharing a dressing-room with guys who have gone to Australia and been successful. Guys who have achieved plenty of success in Australia. That gives the young guys like us plenty of confidence that we can go there and do something really special."

The offspinner, however, is under no illusions and believed that the visitors need to be at their best to complete a hat-trick of series wins in Australia. "Don't get me wrong. I've heard the stories, and I know it's going to be unbelievably hard cricket down there. The Aussies are just so competitive and play such a positive brand of cricket. However, that's how it must be. It must be tough," he noted.

Piedt further added that the competitive brand of cricket Australia bring to the table is what makes winning against them an 'ultimate achievement'. "That is why I think, with all the history the two teams share, an Australia Test tour is the World Cup of Test cricket for any South African laaitie (sic). It's the pinnacle. To go down there and do well is the ultimate achievement."

While Piedt is looking forward to the series, he also acknowledged that the Australian pitches can be unforgiving to the spinners, especially for those who bowl off-spin. Even Muttiah Muralitharan, Sri Lanka's legendary spinner, struggled to make his mark in Australia, but Piedt is ready for a stern examination of his skills.

"I am well aware of what awaits me. It is not just the conditions. It's the way the Aussies play. There's a lot of bravado in their batting," said Piedt. "They enjoy taking you on. They love attacking you, coming down the wicket at you, they are always at you. I was recently on the South Africa A tour to Australia where I experienced that. I find that exciting. It brings you into the game as a spinner.

"I'm under no illusions that it's going to be tough. I might not even play in the first Test in Perth. We might decide to go with (an) all-pace attack. I can't worry about that. That's out of my hands. If I am selected to play, I will have a job to do. If I am not, then I will also have a job to do and that's to ensure my team-mates are hydrated sufficiently. Whatever my role is for the team, on or off the field, I want to do it to the best of my ability," he added.

Piedt hasn't had much to do in recent times with South Africa placing their confidence in their three-pronged pace attack, but the off-break bowler stated that he has a big role to play as a support bowler. "I really enjoyed bowling against New Zealand recently. I might not have had a big role to play with guys like Dale (Steyn) back, but the part I did play was certainly pleasurable," he said.

As AB de Villiers was ruled out of the two-match Test series against New Zealand due to an elbow injury, Faf du Plesses led in his absence. Piedt was effusive in his praise for the stand-in captain, especially with the way he used the slow left-arm orthodox bowler. "Faf (du Plessis) really inspired me. He really wanted me to attack. And that's when I play my best cricket.

"I like taking wickets and working on ways to take wickets, especially in the second innings. Faf came to me and said don't worry about the runs, just go out there and get me a wicket. I really tried to bowl attacking lines because the ball was spinning and when I managed to get BJ Watling (out) it was really satisfying because not only did I break up a little partnership, I answered my captain's call," Piedt summed up.

© Cricbuzz

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