What you see is what you get with this pitch

there was some under-watering with that pitch. Then there also was the rolling, but mistakes like those aren’t common.”

The fact that South Africa have already sealed the series with 72 and 135-run wins in Cape Town and Centurion respectively means they have an opportunity to end their Wanderers hoodoo against India.

Their four matches at the Bullring stands at three draws (1992, 1997 and 2013). India’s first test win in South Africa in 2006 was at the ground. It was an ambush masterminded by fast bowler Shanthakumaran “Sree” Sreesanth on a typical green top.

India’s other win in South Africa in Durban nearly eight years ago was also on a “green mamba” and Sreesanth was the common denominator.

The thrilling 2013 draw where South Africa recorded the third highest fourth innings total (450/7) was set up by characteristically aggressive batting from explosive current India skipper Virat Kohli (119 and 96) and a breakthrough second innings 153 from Cheteshwar Pujara.

However, current captain Faf du Plessis and his predecessor AB de Villiers weren’t ready to be upstaged and produced remarkable fourth-innings tons as South Africa fell eight runs short of making history.

The No 5 strip, used once this season for a domestic T20 match, is the test surface and Buthelezi said it played well.

Unlike his Newlands counterpart Evan Flint, who drew blood from a stone in preparing the surface that provided healthy pace, bounce and seam movement in dry Cape Town, Buthelezi has had plenty of precipitation to work with and doesn’t have to worry about what travelling teams have to say about the pitch.

“Sometimes they will come and ask how the surface is going to play but I often tell them that what you see is what you get with this pitch and it’s ready for play. I prepare accordingly for the game that’s going to take place. If it’s a limited-overs strip, it’s a case of shaving the grass,” Buthelezi said.

Bethuel Buthelezi Wanderers head groundsman