Kolkata, February 16: South African batting consultant Kepler Wessels today said butter-fingered Protea fielders were to be blamed for the visiting team’s plight in the second and final Test against India at the Eden Gardens here.
Wessels said that South Africa were missing specialist fielders behind the stumps as regular wicket-keeper Mark Boucher was ruled out of the match with a back injury and skipper Graeme Smith could not field in the slips as he was playing with a fractured left little finger.
“If you don’t take your opportunities against a good side, you’re going to pay the price,” Wessels told reporters.
“You can’t drop good players and expect to get away with it, particularly on good surfaces like this. It’s always difficult when you have to reinvent your slip cordon. We’ve got an experienced keeper but he is not playing.
–Agencies