India have won seven of their eight Tests at home against South Africa since February 2010 — the odd one being the washed-out match in Bengaluru in November 2015. The unbeaten streak began at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens, the venue for the first of two Tests, starting on Friday.
Former South Africa captain Graeme Smith, in the city to promote the fourth season of SA20 (December 26 to January 25), feels it’s important for SA to start the Kolkata Test well. “Kolkata is generally a good place to bat. You get good value for runs and if the stadium is full, it will really motivate the South Africans to do well. If you get behind the game in the subcontinent, it’s very difficult to fight your way back. So, it’s important to start the tour well, especially for the batters,” said the SA20 League Commissioner.
SA spinner Simon Harmer (left) and Keshav Maharaj at the Eden Gardens nets on Wednesday. Pics/PTI
‘Spinners can do damage’
“South Africa have a decent bowling attack, especially in the spin department. [Keshav] Maharaj and [Simon] Harmer can definitely do damage. They can control the game and have the ability to turn the ball. It’ll be interesting to see how [Kagiso] Rabada and the others handle reverse swing,” added Smith, who scored 9265 runs in 117 Tests for SA.
Batting great, Hashim Amla, now coach of MI Cape Town, echoed his former captain’s views. Amla said: “Both teams have very good seamers and spinners. From a bowling attack perspective, the teams are pretty close. It’s the batting, and the ability to get big runs on the board to allow their bowlers to exert pressure, that’s very important. South Africa have quite a few inexperienced guys who have come to India for the first time. That might also be an advantage because they have a lot less baggage of what happened in the previous tours and come with a fresh mind.”
SA are banking heavily on 36-year-old right-arm off-spinner Harmer, who is on his second tour to India after 2015-16. Harmer has played in 12 Tests since 2014-15 and made a comeback on the recent tour of Pakistan after two-and-a-half-years.
Smith said: “The Pakistan tour [series drawn 1-1 last month] was a big one for Harmer. When he has got his opportunities in the past, he has almost struggled a little bit with the expectation. Bowling South Africa to victory and being successful would give him the confidence.”
Amla, who has amassed 9282 runs in 124 Tests, is looking forward to the spin duo of Harmer and Maharaj. “Ten years ago, when we came here, Simon was younger. Now, with 10 years of experience, he’s been fantastic in English county cricket [258 wickets in the last five seasons] and in South African cricket. Thankfully, he’s got Maharaj at the other end, one of the best left-arm spinners. It’s going to be quite a formidable duo.”
Battle of top pacers
This series is also a contest between World No. 1 Test pacer Jasprit Bumrah and No. 5 Rabada. Smith added: “Countering Bumrah up front is going to be a big thing, and Rabada as well for India. They’re world-class bowlers with world-class Test records. How Rabada can set the tone with the new ball is going to be important.”
13
No. of wickets Simon Harmer picked in the two Tests against Pakistan last month
Nine
No. of wickets claimed by Keshav Maharaj in the only Test he played against Pakistan last month