| Time to
take on the best Thursday, 13 December, 2001 South African batsman Neil McKenzie looks forward to the first Test against Australia in his latest column for BBC Sport Online. Perth turned out to be a good tune-up for the boys, even though we were roasted a bit from the press about the cricket we played in our four-day match with the Western Warriors. The criticism hasn't really fazed us much as we know it was an important match to prepare for the Test series and most of the guys used it to get familiar with the wickets, from both a batting and a bowling point of view. I was happy with my knock in the second innings and obviously it's a great way to prepare for a Test match, making a hundred a couple of days beforehand. Time at the wicket is crucial for any batsman and it's better than numerous nets and throw-downs. Having said that, each game is always a new beginning and the need to build an innings starts all over again. Hopefully, I can take this form into the Test match and serve the team well. We've now moved onto Adelaide in South Australia, home of the Barossa Valley and some fine Aussie wines. I intend sampling a few of them at our pre-Test match team dinner where we are being hosted by our sponsors. Big build-up The wicket here in Adelaide is a little different to that in Perth. The nets have been a bit sporty and the centre wicket looks to be a good one for the bowlers up front, but it will come onto the bat nicely as well. The last time South Africa played here, it was a very tense affair as the team was trying to force a win to level the series and there was the incident where Mark Waugh hit his stumps and was given not out. Be that as it may, it is going to be a hell of a series if what the press are writing is anything to go by. Off the field, the boys have been doing the traditional stuff like checking out the shops, spending their cash and buying clothes and shoes to win the best-dressed award. Trying to relax As for us more sporty types, we indulged in our favourite pre-match past time of a round of golf. I played with Mark Boucher and Gary Kirsten against Allan Donald, new boy Jacques Rudolph and Steve Elworthy. Clearly, the shorter boys in our team out-played the longer hitters with "Shotsie" Elworthy not getting to see too much of the greener parts of the course. In our three ball skins game, experience rather than youth came to the fore with Gary holing a good put on the last hole to secure him 24 skins and all the cash. Naturally, this had him buying Boucher and I drinks for the rest of the day. Ahead of the first Test, there are a few nerves in the camp but better than that, there is a great feeling of excitement and anticipation as we're about to engage our skills against the current world Test champions. Until the next time, this is Neil McKenzie from the friendly city of Adelaide for BBC Sport Online. |