'Do-or-die' for India, says Pollock

For India, the second Castle Lager/MTN Test match against South Africa starting at St George's Park on Friday is something of a "do-or-die" affair. That's not the Indian perspective, mind, but the view of the home captain, Shaun Pollock.

Speaking on Thursday as rain forced the South Africans into the St George's Park indoor nets, Pollock said: "It's a bit of a do-or-die for them, but that's what happens in a three-Test series. Every game becomes vital. There's not really time to mess one up."

If Pollock does get tense and nervous before a Test match, he rarely shows it. And you could say that being one-up with two Tests to go entitles him to be relaxed. Still, he feels that the gap between the two sides in Bloemfontein was not as pronounced as South Africa's nine-wicket winning margin suggests.

"I think our first innings batting was the vital part," he said. "To get 370 ... for us to get a lead was important, so I don't think the margin was that big. Obviously you can read things into it once you've seen the result, but I don't think it was as far apart as that."

The South African captain said that he would prefer to keep the combination together that won the first Test, indicating that Jacques Rudolph, added to the South African squad this week, would probably have to wait to make his Test debut.

And he confirmed that Nantie Hayward, stricken by a stomach bug on Wednesday, had reported fit on Thursday and would play. "He's better today," said Pollock. "His stomach's recovered. He's probably a bit hungry today, but he's fine."

Although it was still heavily overcast in Port Elizabeth at lunchtime on Thursday, the early morning rain had stopped. Sunny weather is forecast for Friday, but there could be some moisture about and the captain winning the toss could be tempted to exploit whatever help is provided by the pitch by electing to bowl first.