Kirsten defends off days

South Africa coach Gary Kirsten Thursday defended giving his team time off before the second Adelaide Test as injuries struck down three key bowlers on the opening day of the match.
Australia, led by in-form skipper Michael Clarke's unbeaten 224, reached stumps at 482 for five
on a day the world number one Proteas will want to forget.
The South Africans lost paceman Vernon Philander with a back problem before the start of play.
Their problems were then compounded by hamstring injuries to Jacques Kallis and Dale Steyn, leaving their bowling attack at the mercy of the rampant Australian batsmen.
Philander and Kallis went for scans, while pace spearhead Steyn returned to the field after treatment on a tight hamstring.
"Losing Jacques to a type of injury he has never had in his career was a tough one," Kirsten said.
"He has gone for a scan so we don't really know, we will just have to wait for that. He was a little bit sore and I think he made a wise decision, as soon as he
felt a twinge he got off the park quickly.