A Review of India-South Africa Cricket Test Series

When the Cricket world in India is so crazy with twenty twenty cricket, especially after the launch of the ICL and and the IPL series, with all its pomp and glory attached to it, we should not forget that the real test of the cricketing prowess of a cricketing country can be gauged only through test cricket. Hence, the purpose of this article is to refresh one’s memory towards test cricket with the recollection of our memory with the recent Test series played between India and South Africa.

From March, 26 th, 2008 onwards Indian and South African cricket teams played their three test series at three venues, Chennai, Ahamedabad and Kanpur  and the series lasted upto April 12 th, 2008.

The first test between India and South Africa was played at Chepauk, Chennai, M.A.Chidamabaram stadium, in a flat pitch, that proved to be a bats man paradise. South Africa batting first scored 540 runs in the first innings. India replied with a terrific triple century by India’s dashing Delhi Opening batsman in a record 278 delveries. It was a typical one day innings and not a test innings.South Africa in the course of the innings tried all its ploys to get his wicket and curtail his scoring rate but with little effect. Eventually Virendar Sehwag got out for 319 and joined the elite band of Australia’s Don Bradman,the West Indian Brian Lara, of scoring two triple centuries in their career. In fact Lara and his family expected that Sehwag might break Lara’s record of highest test score of 400.But unfortunately, Sehwag got out at the score of 319 and the record remained intact. South African batsmen Mckenzy, Hashish Amla scored centuries to give credit to their team. However, the First test ended in a tame draw, with the pitch playing spoil sport.

The Second test between India and South Africa was played at Ahamedbad at Motora ground. India won the toss and chose to bat but it was skittled out for just a paltry 76 runs in the first innings, with our batsmen leading a procession from the ground to the pavilion. South Africa in reply scored over 500 runs in the first innings and India was all out in its second innings for 300 odd runs, thereby India conceding an innings defeat .i.e South Africa scored an impressive win in the second test with a margin of an innings and eighty runs. South African pace bowlers who spoiled the Indian party was mainly Steyne.Well, Motoro pitch was tailor made and suited to the South African fast bowlers and our medium pacers Sreesanth and R.P.Singh had no any impact on the South African players whatsoever. Our recently find bowling sensation Ishant Sharma was not available plagued by injury. Well, a loss was a loss. And there was no use of crying over the spilt milk. We proceeded to Kanpur, with a burden of salvaging our prestige and squaring the test series by winning the third test. It was a must-win situation for India. And our record that India has not lost the home series in the recent past should be kept intact.

The Third test at Kanpur,Green park Oval..The pitch was under-prepared and largely favourable to spinners.But our captain and main trump card, Anil Kumble was not available for the third test, due to injury and not fit enough to play.Dhoni had to lead the team. Ishant Sharma and Munaf Patel were included in the Indian team, dropping R.P.Singh  and Irfan Pathan .South Africa won the toss and chose to play. It began its innings solidly with Mckenzy and Smith. But India clawed back into the test, a recent  ability that it had acquired.Indian bowlers restricted South Africa for 265 in the first innings, the main wicket takers being Harbajan Singh and Ishant Sharma, three wickets each. India in reply posted a decent total of 325 runs in the first innings with a lead of 60 runs in the first innings, thanks to a fine 87 scored by ‘Dada’ Saurav Ganguly and to the wagging of tail by Sreesanth and Ishant Sharma with a useful partnership for the last wicket. South Africa managed to score only 121 in its second innings on a deteriorating pitch largely favouring spin. Thanks to Dhoni’s tactics and inspiring leadership and our bowlers ‘Bajji’ claiming four wickets, Sehwag, three, Ishant with two and Sreesanth with one wicket, the prize wicket of Mckenczy. India managed to chase the winning target of 62 runs fairly easily in the second innings loosing only two wickets in the process. In the end India won by eight wickets on the third day and leveled the test series with South Africa at 1-1.

In the Third test, Saurav Ganguly was the man of the match and Harbajan Singh was man of the series, winning a Tata Sumo from the sponsors of the match.As South African captain put it, it was a terrific test series and they played with a very good Indian team.The No 2 Test ranking given to India by the ICC, after India’s good show in the recent Australian tour, also remains intact, consequent to India’s test series draw with South Africa.