Now that the appetisers are done, India and South Africa can get down to the main course of the Freedom Series — the four Tests.
Thanks to the World Cup and the IPL, neither team has played much five-day cricket in 2015. South Africa have played three Tests on paper but one and half in reality, having lost six out of 10 days to rain in Bangladesh. Likewise, India have played five Test, but lost three out of five days in the sole Test against Bangladesh to rain. Given the month long limited-overs prelude, a little rustiness won’t be surprising.
File picture of Ravichandran Ashwin. AFPFile picture of Ravichandran Ashwin. AFP
Both sides also switch captains. Hashim Amla will lead the visitors while Virat Kohli, fresh off India’s first series win in Sri Lanka for over 20 years, takes over from MS Dhoni. The first Test in Mohali will be Kohli’s captaincy debut at home and you know he will to want to commemorate the occasion with a victory. But while India have a different captain, the same problems remain. There are questions about the fast bowling and the batting order despite the switch to five-day cricket.
Ajinkya Rahane and Rohit Sharma played musical chairs against Sri Lanka and the question of where they should bat remains. Cheteshwar Pujara, who made a hundred as an opener in the third Test in Sri Lanka, should ideally be in the playing XI but nobody seems to know how to fit him in, especially since Kohli prefers playing five bowlers (or four bowlers and an all-rounder). This makes it impossible to play Rahane, Rohit and Pujara at the same time, and Pujara is currently the odd man out.
With Rohit proving to be India’s form batsman during the limited-overs part of the tour, you can expect Pujara to sit on the sidelines a little while longer despite scoring a hundred against South Africa in South Africa two years ago. India need to do is decide where they are going to bat Rohit, and similarly, Rahane. As Firstpost has already argued, by dint of his performances, Rahane has earned the right to bat where he is most comfortable. But his flexibility and willingness to accommodate the team could backfire on him.
While moving the two up and down the order didn’t cost the team in Sri Lanka, it won’t be as easy against a South Africa pace attack that is the best in the world. Facing Dale Steyn without a clear head, is recipe for trouble and India should not underestimate the benefits of stability that a solid No 3 can provide.
At the top of the order, Shikhar Dhawan’s form in the ODI series was a concern, but his recent record in Test cricket is very good and there is no reason to suspect India will tamper with their opening partnership.
Picking the right bowling combination will also be tricky. India whitewashed Australia with three spinners back in 2012 and played three spinners in the ODI series. If the home side manages to get pitches conducive to spin, that could well be the strategy again. That approach would also help negate South Africa’s strength — their fast bowling — while preying on their weakness — a lack of proven, quality spinners.
South Africa struggled against spin in the ODIs, so it is an obvious strategy but India won their last two away Tests playing two spinners and Kohli likes to have pace at his disposal, so there is a chance India opt to stick with a winning formula. Either way, the team will need a seaming all-rounder, which means Stuart Binny should see some action.
Expect R Ashwin to lead the attack and expect Kohli to give him the licence to attack. How Ashwin goes could determine the course of this series.
South Africa are a formidable team but have some issues of their own. As mentioned above, the spinning cupboard isn’t overflowing. Leg-spinner Imran Tahir has yet to establish himself in Tests — an average of 46.39 and a strike-rate of 78 are not going to scare anyone. The other two spinners in the squad — offies Dane Piedt and Simon Harmer — have combined to play four Tests.
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However, Piedt has some experience of playing in India as part of the South Africa ‘A’ side that toured in August. He took 11 wickets in two games to be their leading wicket-taker and India have struggled against off-spin over the last few years.
South Africa’s middle order is where the danger for India lies, with Hashim Amla, AB de Villiers and Faf du Plessis manning the ramparts, but their opening combination of Dean Elgar and Stan van Zyl is new and untested. While Van Zyl has a Test average of 76.66, he has only played five Tests, and those were against West Indies and Bangladesh. A long series in India will be a severe examination of his technique and composure. If India can make regular, early inroads, the pressure on South Africa’s middle order will be immense.
Historically, South Africa have given almost has good as they have got in India. They have won five Tests and lost five, though they have lost two series to India’s one, with the other two ending in ties. Of the 12 Tests, the teams have played, only two have ended in draws and given Kohli’s desire to push for victory, boring draws appear unlikely.
India like batting at home but South Africa have plenty of firepower too, especially with AB de Villiers in imperious form. The series could well come down to the pitches and how well their respective bowlers exploit them. If the pitches do help the spinners, then you’d have to say India has the advantage.
Should India win the series, the losses in the T20 Internationals and One-dayers will be confined to the dustbin of history. A victory will also burnish Kohli’s growing reputation and raise the pressure on MS Dhoni to deliver as limited-overs captain or risk being put out to pasture.
Thanks to the World Cup and the IPL, neither team has played much five-day cricket in 2015. South Africa have played three Tests on paper but one and half in reality, having lost six out of 10 days to rain in Bangladesh. Likewise, India have played five Test, but lost three out of five days in the sole Test against Bangladesh to rain. Given the month long limited-overs prelude, a little rustiness won’t be surprising.
File picture of Ravichandran Ashwin. AFPFile picture of Ravichandran Ashwin. AFP
Both sides also switch captains. Hashim Amla will lead the visitors while Virat Kohli, fresh off India’s first series win in Sri Lanka for over 20 years, takes over from MS Dhoni. The first Test in Mohali will be Kohli’s captaincy debut at home and you know he will to want to commemorate the occasion with a victory. But while India have a different captain, the same problems remain. There are questions about the fast bowling and the batting order despite the switch to five-day cricket.
Ajinkya Rahane and Rohit Sharma played musical chairs against Sri Lanka and the question of where they should bat remains. Cheteshwar Pujara, who made a hundred as an opener in the third Test in Sri Lanka, should ideally be in the playing XI but nobody seems to know how to fit him in, especially since Kohli prefers playing five bowlers (or four bowlers and an all-rounder). This makes it impossible to play Rahane, Rohit and Pujara at the same time, and Pujara is currently the odd man out.
With Rohit proving to be India’s form batsman during the limited-overs part of the tour, you can expect Pujara to sit on the sidelines a little while longer despite scoring a hundred against South Africa in South Africa two years ago. India need to do is decide where they are going to bat Rohit, and similarly, Rahane. As Firstpost has already argued, by dint of his performances, Rahane has earned the right to bat where he is most comfortable. But his flexibility and willingness to accommodate the team could backfire on him.
While moving the two up and down the order didn’t cost the team in Sri Lanka, it won’t be as easy against a South Africa pace attack that is the best in the world. Facing Dale Steyn without a clear head, is recipe for trouble and India should not underestimate the benefits of stability that a solid No 3 can provide.
At the top of the order, Shikhar Dhawan’s form in the ODI series was a concern, but his recent record in Test cricket is very good and there is no reason to suspect India will tamper with their opening partnership.
Picking the right bowling combination will also be tricky. India whitewashed Australia with three spinners back in 2012 and played three spinners in the ODI series. If the home side manages to get pitches conducive to spin, that could well be the strategy again. That approach would also help negate South Africa’s strength — their fast bowling — while preying on their weakness — a lack of proven, quality spinners.
South Africa struggled against spin in the ODIs, so it is an obvious strategy but India won their last two away Tests playing two spinners and Kohli likes to have pace at his disposal, so there is a chance India opt to stick with a winning formula. Either way, the team will need a seaming all-rounder, which means Stuart Binny should see some action.
Expect R Ashwin to lead the attack and expect Kohli to give him the licence to attack. How Ashwin goes could determine the course of this series.
South Africa are a formidable team but have some issues of their own. As mentioned above, the spinning cupboard isn’t overflowing. Leg-spinner Imran Tahir has yet to establish himself in Tests — an average of 46.39 and a strike-rate of 78 are not going to scare anyone. The other two spinners in the squad — offies Dane Piedt and Simon Harmer — have combined to play four Tests.
ALSO SEE
Can South Africa overcome Wankhede crowd, India's batting, to claim historic series win?
Can South Africa overcome Wankhede crowd, India's batting, to claim historic series win?
ICC ODI rankings: India steady at second, De Villiers retains top spot, Kohli rises to number two
ICC ODI rankings: India steady at second, De Villiers retains top spot, Kohli rises to number two
India vs South Africa: The difference between De Villiers and Kohli was the support they received
India vs South Africa: The difference between De Villiers and Kohli was the support they received
However, Piedt has some experience of playing in India as part of the South Africa ‘A’ side that toured in August. He took 11 wickets in two games to be their leading wicket-taker and India have struggled against off-spin over the last few years.
South Africa’s middle order is where the danger for India lies, with Hashim Amla, AB de Villiers and Faf du Plessis manning the ramparts, but their opening combination of Dean Elgar and Stan van Zyl is new and untested. While Van Zyl has a Test average of 76.66, he has only played five Tests, and those were against West Indies and Bangladesh. A long series in India will be a severe examination of his technique and composure. If India can make regular, early inroads, the pressure on South Africa’s middle order will be immense.
Historically, South Africa have given almost has good as they have got in India. They have won five Tests and lost five, though they have lost two series to India’s one, with the other two ending in ties. Of the 12 Tests, the teams have played, only two have ended in draws and given Kohli’s desire to push for victory, boring draws appear unlikely.
India like batting at home but South Africa have plenty of firepower too, especially with AB de Villiers in imperious form. The series could well come down to the pitches and how well their respective bowlers exploit them. If the pitches do help the spinners, then you’d have to say India has the advantage.
Should India win the series, the losses in the T20 Internationals and One-dayers will be confined to the dustbin of history. A victory will also burnish Kohli’s growing reputation and raise the pressure on MS Dhoni to deliver as limited-overs captain or risk being put out to pasture.
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