See you at Newlands

ALL roads lead to Newlands Cricket Ground this weekend. Yes, it may be a couple of days later than the normal New Year’s Test, but it is still South Africa versus India.

The series may be called the Friendship Series, in honour of Nelson Mandela and Mahatma Gandhi, but the action out in the middle will be nothing less than intense.

India have arrived in South Africa as the World’s No 1-ranked Test side. They have won nine Test series in succession, having last lost a series in 2014.

The Proteas are ranked No 2. Often Test cricket lacks context, but this is undoubtedly a battle for the World Championship. Besides the rankings, there is even more at stake for both teams.

South Africa have never been defeated in a Test series by a subcontinent nation on home soil. India, meanwhile, believe they have the team to rewrite the record books.

The tourists are loaded with superstars. There is none bigger than their visiting captain, Virat Kohli, who comes off a season where he struck 2 818 runs across all international formats last year.

The Proteas, though, will not just wilt. The home side have been boosted by the return of a couple of their own legends.

AB de Villiers is back in the Proteas fold after a two-year absence due to injury and a self-imposed sabbatical, and his duel with good friend Kohli is sure to be a highlight of the series.

Equally, Dale Steyn is raring to go. After a year out of the international game South Africa’s pace spearhead is itching to get at the Indians. He also needs just five wickets to pass Shaun Pollock’s alltime national record.

The Proteas are seeking revenge for a loss in India three years ago, which ended South Africa’s almost decade-long streak away from home. The series was played on really spiteful pitches that turned square almost from day one. The favour will no doubt be repaid with green, hard, bouncy pitches in South Africa.

It promises to be five days of enthralling cricket at our majestic home of cricket.