Proteas failing to find traction
HUGE GAP: RETIREMENT OF FOUR STARS HAS NOT HELPED
Cape Town
Replacing a host of Test-winning performers is proving a hard ask for South Africa who suffered a fourth successive defeat, roundly thumped as India won by an innings and 137 runs on the fourth day in Pune yesterday to go 2-0 down in the three-Test series.
The defeat was the heaviest suffered by South Africa against India and followed quickly on a comprehensive 203-run victory for the hosts in the first Test at Visakhapatnam last week.
The retirement from the Test arena over the last 18 months of Hashim Amla, AB de Villiers, Morne Morkel and Dale Steyn was always going to leave South Africa stretched.
There was already much concern after Sri Lanka won both Tests in South Africa in a quickfire series in February and then Cricket South Africa terminated Ottis Gibson’s tenure as coach after a disappointing World Cup in England and Wales in mid-year.
Any hopes that South Africa might be able to quickly bridge the gap have been blown away in India, where the team have looked largely overawed and outgunned and without much of the tenacity of the past.
“We’ve lost most of our experience. You don’t replace those guys overnight,” captain Faf du Plessis told reporters yester.
“Your best teams are those with the most experience and guys that have been through it.”
He felt, though, that even with fewer than 60 caps between them, the South Africans could have put up a better fight.
“We let ourselves down. There are a lot of questions that need answers and players that need to put their hands up.” – Reuters