Tough opposition at last for Proteas

AFTER being fed a diet of lopsided mismatches, fans finally have a chance to watch heavyweight cricket nations South Africa and India slug it out in what promises to be a gripping three-match test series.

After one-sided tests against minnows Bangladesh and Zimbabwe earlier this season, South Africa’s eagerly awaited series against India gets under way at Newlands tomorrow.

There are real fears that test cricket is being watered down by new members who are clearly out of their depth when they play the major nations.

After Bangladesh were awarded test status in1999, Ireland and Afghanistan were also included in the once elite club during June.

The South Africa versus India series, however, will pit strength against strength, and will be a proper test of skill and endurance.

India have never found South African conditions to their liking and have yet to win a series in this country.

This time, though, India feel they have the balance in their squad which will enable them to end their South African hoodoo.

India’s best performance was a drawn series in 2010-11, but their skipper, Virat Kohli, believes his team have the cutting edge in their bowling to take the series.

With this new-found confidence, Kohli says his team want to show that they have the ability to win test matches under any conditions.

Though India, top in the test rankings, have won their last nine test series in a row, stretching back to August 2015, their record in South Africa is a blemish on their record that they want to put right

Since 1992, they have won just two of the 17 tests played here, losing five of the six series, with the 1-1 draw in 2010-11 their best return.

South Africa’s pacemen will throw everything at the Indians, but Kohli says his batsmen are determined not to be surprised by the extra bounce and pace.

Let’s play, gentlemen!