Duminy may miss opening Test

A hand injury has seen South Africa's JP Duminy ruled out of his side's only warm-up game in Mumbai ahead of the four-Test series against India, with the allrounder said to be a "50-50" proposition to feature in the opening Test in Mohali from November 5.

Duminy missed the final two one-day internationals of South Africa's dramatic series win over the home side, injuring his right hand while attempting a return catch in South Africa's 18-run game three victory in Rajkot.

"He would not be playing in the (two-day) game here. His chances of playing at Mohali are 50-50 at present," a South African team spokesperson told the press.

Duminy needed stitches in his webbing following his injury and is still to get those out. Once those stitches are removed in the coming days, his condition will be assessed again before a decision is made.

Morne Morkel, who suffered a right quad injury and also missed the final two ODIs, could be in line to make a comeback for the warm-up game.

Meanwhile South African opener Stiaan van Zyl is relying on the experience of playing various forms of the game in the sub-continent in recent times to help him overcome the threat of India's spinners.

The 28-year-old was a part of the South African XI that played two Tests in Bangladesh in July this year before he toured India with the South Africa A side the following month.

With scores of 34 and an unbeaten 33 against Bangladesh and a 96 in one of the innings against India A at Wayanad, van Zyl has runs on the board in sub-continental conditions, and the warm-up game against the Indian Board President's XI at the CCI in Mumbai will only add to that experience.

"I had a decent time in the game at Kerala [Wayanad], got some runs. I got some confidence from it,” he said. 

"Playing on the sub-continent wickets and doing okay has made me confident about my game. But Test cricket is a different kettle of fish, and I am looking forward to it."

One of the toughest challenges for batsmen visiting the sub-continent is to overcome the threat of spin bowling in the presence of numerous close-in catchers and noisy crowds. While the matches in Wayanad were played to empty stadiums, van Zyl did have a taste of those close-catching fielders during the A series.

His tactic is to get off strike as quickly as possible.

"I was fortunate to have played so many overs in a day in the A game in Kerala with guys around the bat," he said. 

"You have to find a way to get off the strike, because it will get difficult if they sit on you and put pressure. Getting off the strike and putting a loose ball away is crucial."

Just five Tests into his international career, van Zyl has been seeking advice from senior players like Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers, as well as batting consultant and former Australian international Michael Hussey, on how to play in sub-continent conditions.

Hussey's experience of having played internationals and IPL cricket in India has been of assistance, and one of the first pieces of advice Hussey has for an inexperienced player like van Zyl is to use the depth of the crease.

"Indian wickets are slow and he advised (us) to play more on the back foot," van Zyl said. 

"He's played a lot here and in IPL, and knows what the wickets do here."