Agencies
Nagpur, Nov 24: Hashim Amla and his band of warriors will return to the Jamtha Cricket Stadium here Wednesday, hopes riding high. But then if indications are to be believed, the happy memories of 2010 may fade quickly as they will have to battle it out once more in the third Test on a pitch which in all probability will turn out to be a “Ashwin-Jadeja special’. India currently lead the four-Test series 1-0, winning the first one at Mohali while the second game being washed away at Bangalore.
The last time, South Africa played here in a Test was in 2010 which they won by an innings and six runs with the current skipper getting an unbeaten 253 and Dale Steyn blowing India away with a 10-wicket haul in the match. That looks highly unlikely this time around in the BCCI chief’s city with the pitch set to favour the spinners.
Since the venue has shifted to the Jamtha, the hosts have played four Tests, winning two, losing one while the other against England in 2012, ending in a stalemate. But then in the past the wickets here have been ‘sporting’, this time it may not be the case.
But what would be the worrying factor for the visitors is that save AB de Villiers, none of the other batters have been able to get going against the duo of Ravi Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja. They have looked horribly out of sorts to the turning ball and are yet to reach the 225-mark in the three innings that they have played getting bowled out for 184, 109 and 214 in the three innings they have played.
Both Amla and Faf du Plessis – two of the most experienced players in the batting line-up have looked out of sorts and that has contributed a lot to the Proteas being on the backfoot in the ongoing Test series.
Honour is also at stake for the South Africans simply because this is the first time in nine years they are staring at an overseas series defeat. The last time that happened was in 2006 when South Africa lost the series 0-2 away to Sri Lanka. Since then they have won 10 of the 14 rubbers they
have played and have never appeared to be under stress. A bad innings here will see them lose the aura of invincibility that they had build up in away series and with Steyn being doubtful for the game, problems have compounded for the visitors.
India will go into the game reverting to the three-spinner tactics with Amit Mishra expected to regain his place in place of Stuart Binny. Other than that, the Indians, who also have not batted very well, will retain the same side that played in Bangalore. The good thing for the hosts is that opener Shikhar Dhawan is back among runs and he showed that with an unfinished knock of 45 at Bangalore. But Virat Kohli needs to contribute also.
