India seek to buck the trend and create history at Newlands
-
CAPE TOWN, (Reuters) India’s quest for a first ever series win in South Africa will culminate with the third and final test beginning at picturesque Newlands in Cape Town tomorrow, where they are winless in five previous visits and facing some selection posers.
The intriguing series is level at 1-1 after India claimed a 113run victory in Pretoria, and South Africa responded with a seven-wicket win in Johannesburg, a game that finished on Thursday.
The quick turnaround gives little time for reflection, or for tired bodies to recover, and India must decide how they will switch things up to claim what would be a historic win.
Tour captain Virat Kohli is likely to return in the place of Hanuma Vihari after missing the second test with back spasms.
Batsmen Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane had been under immense pressure going into that game, but after first innings failures responded with 53 and 58 respectively in the second, scores that should see them retain their places.
It is likely the tourists will replace seamer Mohammed Siraj, not only because of a hamstring injury that hindered him during the test, but also because of his meagre return of three wickets in the series at an average of 51.00.
One of the experienced duo of Umesh Yadav or Ishant Sharma are in the running to start, and both would be strong options on a wicket that traditionally has seam movement rather than the steep bounce found on the Highveld.
But India’s success or failure is likely to centre around how their batting line-up copes with the home pace attack.
“The wickets have been a little challenging, I will give that to the batsmen,” coach Rahul Dravid told reporters.
“We pride ourselves on wanting to do better and wanting to get better, so as a batting unit we can certainly look to maybe seize a few key moments and when we get those partnerships, make them a little bit longer.”
South Africa will be buoyed by their unexpected win, achieved as they chased down a victory target of 240 in the fourth innings and led by their inspirational captain Dean Elgar, whose typically gritty unbeaten 96 laid the platform for their success.
Injuries notwithstanding, they are unlikely to tinker with their winning formula at a ground where they have never lost to sub-continent opposition in 13 tests. India’s previous five visits have resulted in three home wins and two draws.
“There were areas that we focused on (in the second test) and going into Cape Town, we’ll
CAPE TOWN, (Reuters) - Following is a factbox on the third and final test between South Africa and India, which starts tomorrow.
WHERE?
Newlands, Cape Town (match to be played without spectators)
WHEN?
Jan. 11-15. Play starts at 1030 local time (0830 GMT)
MATCH OFFICIALS
Umpires: Marais Erasmus, Adrian Holdstock (both South Africa)
TV umpire: Allahuddien Paleker (South Africa)
Match
(Zimbabwe) referee:
Andy
Pycroft have to over-emphasise them again,” Elgar said.
“We’ll have to be strict with our game-plan, so we won’t be
SOUTH AFRICA (World ranking: 6) Squad: Dean Elgar (captain), Temba Bavuma, Kagiso Rabada, Sarel Erwee, Beuran Hendricks, George Linde, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Keegan Petersen, Rassie van der Dussen, Kyle Verreynne, Marco Jansen, Glenton Stuurman, Prenelan Subrayen, Sisanda Magala, Ryan Rickelton, Duanne Olivier
Coach: Mark Boucher
INDIA (World ranking: 1)
Squad: Virat Kohli (captain), KL Rahul, Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Priyank Panchal, Shreyas Iyer, Hanuma Vihari, Rishabh Pant, Wriddhiman Saha, Ravichandran Ashwin, Jayant Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Siraj changing too much. We’ve got a relatively inexperienced squad and we know not everything is going to go our way.”
HISTORY
Previous tests in South Africa
Matches: 22
South Africa wins: 11
India wins: 4
Draws: 7
Previous tests between the two nations at all venues
Matches: 41
South Africa wins: 16
India wins: 15
Draws: 10
THIS SERIES
Results:
First test, Dec 26-30, Centurion Park: India won by 113 runs
Second test, Jan 3-7, The Wanderers: South Africa won by 7 wickets.