Sri Lanka coach Mickey Arthur believes his charges will have to be as aggressive as “Iron” Mike Tyson when they face the Proteas in the first Test starting on Boxing Day in Centurion.
Former South Africa A batsman Arthur, 52, coached the Proteas between 2005 and 2010 and says he knows their hosts will come out aggressive in search of only their second win in their last nine Test matches.
But hulle gaan nie terugsit en die punches vat nie, they will fight fire with fire.
It was hoeka Sri Lanka that started South Africa’s poor run of form with a two-match series victory against their hosts at the start of 2019.
Since then, the South Africans have managed just one Test match win – beating in England in last year’s Boxing Day Test at Centurion Park.
With their backs to the wall, Arthur knows the Proteas will come out fighting.
Asked about his insider knowledge of their opponents, Arthur says: “I do kind of know the conditions… [but] I finished coaching SA in 2010. There is a familiarity for me walking into the grounds – they kind of say Africa never leaves you.
“I do know the conditions and I kind of know the psyche of South Africa and how they will attack us.”
Arthur coached Boucher during his years at the helm of SA cricket and believes the Proteas will be an extension of the former national team’s wicketkeeper’s approach to the game.
He adds: “Their head coach Mark Boucher and myself go back a helluva long way and I’m really looking forward to lock horns with him.
“Boucher was always an aggressive player, I am sure he is an aggressive coach. I think South Africa is going to play good hard aggressive cricket and it’s going to be up to us to match it.”