'Not easy for bowlers exposed to South African conditions for first time'

Bloemfontein, Apr 16 (ANI): Mumbai Indians mentor Shaun Pollock has said that bowlers exposed to South African conditions for the first time in the Indian Premier League (IPL) may have a tough time bowling in the right areas.

"It will be just as big a challenge as we faced when we went to India for the first time," said Shaun Pollock, the bowling coach of the Mumbai Indians.

Some promising young Indian players did not look comfortable in the warm-up games. The batsmen struggled with the pace and bounce of the ball. The bowlers also discovered that the ball carries further than is the case back home.

"It will require the bowlers to adapt a little," Sports 24 quoted Pollock, as saying.

But Pollock is not worried about the ability of his bowlers to adapt.

Ryan McLaren is the only South African bowler in the Mumbai Indians. Zaheer Khan and spinner Harbhajan Singh have toured South Africa before, as have Dwayne Bravo (West Indies), Kyle Mills (New Zealand) and Dilhara Fernando (Sri Lanka).

Fernando's compatriot, Lasith Malinga, will be in action in South Africa for the first time.

Pollock confirmed he would be with the team throughout the IPL. Prior to the series being moved he had planned to spend only two weeks with them in India. (ANI)