New Delhi: Former captain Graeme Smith said Thursday that South Africa’s ‘powerful’ bowling attack will put the Indian batting line-up under serious pressure in the upcoming Test series, starting January 5 in Cape Town. He asserted that South Africa will be extra motivated to do well against India, more so after their 0-3 series loss when the two teams last met in India a couple of seasons back.
“I think South Africa will be very strong. With AB de Villiers back, their batting looks a lot stronger. The bowling too is really powerful. They have got four really outstanding experienced pacers to choose from and couple of young pacers as well,” Smith told this agency.
“In all probability, the South Africans will play with three pacers and left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj, but I don’t rule out playing four pacers also with (Dale) Steyn back. There is also great depth in batting with Quniton de Kock at No.7. So it won’t be easy for India,” added the former skipper who led the Proteas to a 1-0 series win when India toured in 2013.
Smith, however, said the scheduling of the first Test in Cape Town could turn out to be a blessing in disguise for the under-prepared visitors.
“I think Cape Town will be India’s best chance. In South Africa, it is not so much about the moving ball, it is the extra bounce that creates a challenge. Cape Town has had a good drought. I expect the wicket to not do too much and have slow bounce and take a little bit of spin as the games goes on,” Smith informed.
“Up in Pretoria (second Test) and Johannesburg (third), it is going to be the biggest challenge for the Indian team,” he added.
For India to succeed, Smith opined that skipper Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara will be the key players. “Yes, there are other good batters also, but these two will have to play exceptionally well for India to beat South Africa,” Smith asserted.
The former skipper also said that the mindset of the Indian pacers will also play an important role in the series. India are coming into the series with Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Ishant Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah, who has received his maiden Test call-up.
“I reckon, India are going to play with three seamers. It will be important for them to bowl long spells and maintain pressure,” Smith pointed out. “The pacers have achieved success in recent times in the sub-continent. They knew they would bowl in short bursts, in Protealand, the situation will be different. They will have to sustain aggression and pressure. That is the key to their success,” Smith added.
Not concerned about records
Paarl (South Africa): Dale Steyn doesn’t want to talk about the possibility of becoming South Africa’s all-time leading wicket-taker. Steyn currently on 416 wickets is five shy of Shaun Pollocks tally of 421. However, he doesn’t want to talk about records as he returns to the international arena after recovering from a freak shoulder injury in November 2016. “Every time someone talks about a record I get injured,” Steyn said Thursday. “So I’m not bothered. Let’s just go play. Let’s see what happens.”
press trust of India
