HYDERABAD (India), Nov 14: Hard-hitting all rounder Justin Kemp is confident he can adapt to the slow Indian pitches when South Africa’s one-day series with India starts on Wednesday. “No one is under any illusion it’s going to be easy and Indians have quality seamers and spinners,” Kemp told reporters on Monday after South Africa eased to an eight-wicket victory over a Hyderabad XI in a warmup game.

“I don’t think it is going to be one massive problem, but it’s just going to be good, hard cricket.

“These are not the kinds of wickets where you can come in and hit from ball one,” added Kemp, who has maintained an impressive strike rate with the bat of 98.07 in 37 one-day internationals.

“I’ve still got a lot to learn but hopefully I can turn one or two games here.”

Power hitter Kemp played an important role for South Africa when they swept New Zealand 4-0 in a one-day series at home earlier this month to stretch their unbeaten run to 19 games.

The 28-year-old, who made his one-day debut against Sri Lanka in 2001, has hammered five fifties in 26 innings at an average of 34.84. With the ball, he has taken 22 wickets at 32.77.

He made his test debut against Sri Lanka in 2001, taking five for 54 in the third and final match, but was sidelined after failing to shine during the tour to West Indies which followed.

However, Kemp was recalled for the home one-dayers against England in January this year and has established his place in the South Africa one-day side with his destructive strokeplay and fast-medium bowling.

“I wasn’t quite mature then,” he said of his disappointing tour to the Caribbean when he admitted smoking marijuana.

Kemp played down any comparisons with former South Africa all rounder Lance Klusener, who was also renowned for his power hitting.

“Lance was a phenomenal cricketer in the world,” he said. “With the feats that he achieved, I can only dream of that at the moment. What I do is try and play like Justin Kemp.

“I play each game as it comes. It (the sixes) gets you a bit of publicity, but along with it comes a bit of pressure.”—Reuters