From The Hindu archives: Indian skipper Mohammad Azharuddin lies on the floor after lacking a catch, as Kapil Dev (proper) and Sachin Tendulkar look on, throughout the first day of the first Test cricket match towards South Africa in Durbon on November 14, 1992.
| Photo Credit: AP
During India’s inaugural Test towards South Africa, in Durban, a few of us in the media field have been amongst the first non-Whites to watch a Test in that nation from behind the bowler’s arm. Later Nelson Mandela was to describe to us how he watched his favorite cricketer, Australia’s Neil Harvey, from a cage sq. of the wicket.
India started effectively, getting a wicket with the first ball, Jimmy Cook caught Sachin Tendulkar bowled Kapil Dev. The Test was drawn, however South Africa gained in Port Elizabeth (now known as Gqeberha) to take the collection. In three many years since, India haven’t gained a collection there after seven extra excursions. Their much-vaunted batting was dismissed for 100 and 66 in two innings in Durban ’96. They lastly gained a Test in Johannesburg a decade later, Sreesanth’s 5 in the first innings dismissing South Africa for 84.
Three many years won’t seem to be a very long time when you think about it took India seven to win their first collection in Australia. But that was a unique India then, an India which noticed a drawn Test away from house as a victory of kinds, an India content material to be lambs overseas in the event that they could possibly be tigers at house.
The favourites
Now India are the No. 1 Test-playing nation (South Africa are fourth), and a crew that considers a draw akin to a defeat. In practically three years since January 2021, they’ve gained extra matches overseas than they’ve misplaced. And when skipper Temba Bavuma says “their bowling attack nullifies the advantage we have,” he acknowledges that India go into the two-Test collection as the favourites.
Why do India have a poor collection file in South Africa? Some of their finest-ever gamers, many who would discover a place in an all-time XI have competed in that interval. The Sachin Tendulkar technology, with its batting and bowling greats someway couldn’t crack it simply as they couldn’t crack Australia both. One poor session of play or an problem with left-arm tempo bowling or defensive cricket or improper crew stability or a mix of a few of these has stymied them.
Two years in the past, it was thought that India had their finest probability. They had gained two successive collection in Australia, have been led by the aggressive Kohli, had a bowling assault spearheaded by Jasprit Bumrah, and commenced by profitable the opening Test at Centurion regardless of shedding a day to rain. They went into the decider at Cape Town 1-1. But a second innings batting collapse (Rishabh Pant made an unbeaten 100 as they folded for 198) and a return of the left-arm seamer nightmare as Marco Jansen claimed seven wicket in the match ended the dream.
Skewed significance
In a two-Test engagement (‘series’ is hardly acceptable for simply two matches), the opening Test assumes a skewed significance. The crew that wins can not lose the rubber. In the early days, defensive Indian captains hoped to draw the first Test and construct on that.
Rohit Sharma is a contemporary chief who would really like to get his punch in first. And if he succeeds, he’ll proceed that method, and never get defensive to sit on the lead. It is an angle South Africa favours too, which ought to make for fascinating matches, climate allowing.
The international locations deserve extra than simply two Tests in an engagement; they’ve by no means performed a five-Test collection which is more and more turning into rarer outdoors the Ashes or India’s collection towards England and Australia.
South Africa have formally requested their gamers to play of their T20 franchise event SA20 which clashes with their subsequent Test engagement (two Tests) towards New Zealand in the championship cycle. A touch to the future maybe?
A win overseas overcomes a psychological barrier. The collection following the one the place India gained in Australia for the first time, they gained once more. That is why it is crucial for India to win in South Africa.
That achievement then strikes the event from the rare to the commonplace. Coach Rahul Dravid, who made 4 excursions of that nation is aware of solely too effectively the extent of the activity.
