SYDNEY — As the Proteas prepare for the first test in Brisbane against Australia starting on November 9, opening batsman Alviro Petersen sought to shift from Twenty20 mode to cricket’s most testing format.
“It’s the mindset,” Petersen said in Sydney on Thursday.
“It’s all about getting into the right frame of mind, making sure that duration comes into play, which is about batting for a long period of time.”
Petersen, who led the Highveld Lions to second place in the Champions League Twenty20 before flying to Australia, believed knowing your own game was essential in the test arena.
“It is important that you stick to your discipline, especially up front,” the Port Elizabeth-born batsman said. “It is about knowing where you have to play, what sort of areas you want to score in; you definitely put the darting of T20 cricket away.”
This tour is Petersen’s fourth visit to Australia, having toured with the National Academy in 2002 and twice with the SA Emerging Players’ squad in 2006 and 2007.
“I think Australia is close to South Africa so hopefully it (the conditions) will play exactly the same as back home,”he said. “I enjoyed it the last time around, so hopefully this time it will be better.”
Petersen and Proteas skipper Graeme Smith have established themselves as a stable opening pair for South Africa, averaging just below 46 in 28 innings, including three century stands. Petersen praised his captain for the positive influence he had on the team.
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“Graeme Smith is a good leader for us, he has done well for us up front and he gives a lot of confidence to the team as a whole. It is always nice to walk out with him,” he said.—Reuters
