Lamb slams SA's slow batting

The South Africans' defensive approach in the first cricket Test against India drew flak from former England batsman Allan Lamb on Tuesday.

"There is not point in batting till the third day; that won't bring any result," said the South Africa-born cricketer.

The Test is heading towards a draw after South Africa batted over two days to accumulate 510 for nine declared.

Lamb was also critical of the South African Board's transformation policy and said form and not colour should be the criteria for selecting a team.

"I do not support Omar Henry for forming a coloured team. You have to consider their form and not their colour to include them in the team," he said at a press conference in Delhi.

The 50-year-old, who made his Test and One-Day International debuts against India, also said the South Africans are struggling because they lack quality fast bowlers since the retirement of Allan Donald.

"Bowlers win the matches; a team should have strong bowlers," he said.

Lamb said India should prepare tracks that have pace and bounce for Test matches.

"You should have quick wickets. Bowlers get a good buy on them."

Lamb, who represented England in 79 Tests and 122 ODIs, said England have their best chance of beating Australia in the Ashes this summer because they have strong bowlers in Steve Harmison and all-rounder Andrew Flintoff.

"It is going to be one of the hard-fought Ashes and there is a real chance for England this time around. Australia can be beaten, of course," he said.

On the 'walking' debate, he said he is not in favour of walking from the crease without waiting for the umpire's decision.

"I don't believe in walking. It is okay in county cricket but not at the international level. At least I would not walk," he said.

He also said the International Cricket Council should have waited before granting Test status to Bangladesh. It has diluted the quality of Test cricket, he added.

Lamb is in town for a rib-tickling live chat show along with his former teammate Ian Botham and MTV VJ Cyrus Broacha.

The show, which comes to India after 10 years, will have the two cricketing icons regaling audiences with anecdotes from their playing days. It will give Indian audiences an opportunity to interact with the players in a no-holds-barred question and answer session.

"Some stories are slightly embroidered, but most of them are absolutely true," said Botham about the show, called "Beefy and Lamb In Stew".

The show will also be staged in Bangalore and Mumbai.