Hit India hard from ball one: Fletcher to his boys

Johannesburg, Jan 14 (PTI) Wary of an Indian backlashafter their humiliating loss in the series opener, SouthAfrican batting coach Duncan Fletcher today asked his playersto hit visiting team "hard" from ball one in tomorrow''s secondcricket one-dayer here.

South Africa had crushed India by a huge margin of 135runs in the first one-dayer at Durban on Wednesday.

But going by India''s performance in the tour so far,South Africa cannot afford to relax as Mahendra Singh Dhoniand company have made a strong comeback in the three-matchTest series, drawing it after losing the first Test by aninnings.

"Just got to be very wary that this happened in the Testseries. But I don''t think it will. There seems to be a verygood attitude amongst this one-day squad. They seem to havelearnt their lesson. It''s just important that they go in thereand hit India hard from ball one again," Fletcher told mediaon the eve of the second ODI of the five-match series.

"And make sure they don''t get complacent. India are quitean experienced side. Although they''ve got young players, ifbut they are pretty experienced. You got to be wary this fact.

They know how to play out of these situations. South Africahave to be careful," added the former England coach.

Fletcher, however, is not happy with the home team''shandling of the Power-plays.

"I''ve always believed they haven''t really believed whenthey have taken it. If sides or captains want, there are a lotof possibilities on how to take them.

"It''s just been a misinterpretation as how you playwithin the Power Play. Sometimes you''ve got to look at it asthere are other advantages of taking it at a certain time," hesaid.

Talking about the changing face of the game in the wakeof Twenty20 cricket, Fletcher said: "It (T20) had an influenceright through cricket. The players are going to be moreattacking, but 50 overs is a lot of cricket.

"If sides think they can go out there and adopt aTwenty20 attitude from ball one, sure on a given day theymight be successful, but not over a period of time. They gotto be very wary that in 50 overs there will be periods whenyou have to be more patient." .