James McKeown
India's prospects in South Africa
November 23rd 2006 03:21
India's tour of South Africa..
The first time I heard this line "India's tour of South Africa" was in 1996...I was a stupid kid then..and this was being advertised on Star Sports...India was playing South Africa in South Africa then... That test series was one of the best test series that I have seen.. I didnt understand cricket much back then...and test cricket was not for stupid kids like me....
What I DO remember in that series was..Allan Donald completely destroying the Indian batting line up....a man called Rahul Dravid rising to the occassion and fighting against all odds...a man who ran from nowhere to take a catch to get rid of Gary Kirsten...a fantastic catch no doubt...and that said 2 things about this man....this man loved his cricket...and he was totally dedicated...
South Africa was at their peak then...they had the best bowlers...Fannie De Villiers, Allan Donald, Brett Schultz, a young but promising Shaun Pollock and a spinner Paul Adams.... Their batting was rock solid..starting with the ever dependable Andrew Hudson and Gary Kirsten. Daryl Cullinan and Hansie Cronje brought stabliity to the middle order while a great allrounder Brian McMillan provided the balance. South Africa was the best cricket team then....
No one gave India a chance although they had just beaten the same South African side at home.. but this was an Indian cricket team that is known to be lions at home but lambs abroad...a team that is known to struggle against genuine pace bowling....lots of expectations were on Tendulkar to deliver but he falied badly and by the time he found form...South Africa had already won 2-0. Allan Donald was the bowler of the series for me...and a bowler who I would rate among the top 5 of all time.
10 years later...it is a complete different picture now.... Allan Donald is no longer there..South Africa is no longer the best team...their inspirational captain Hansie Cronje is dead..
but things are different in India aswell... the man who announced his arrival with his fantastic batting in South Africa in 1996 is now the captain of the Indian team....there is no Azharudding or Srinath...who both played brilliantly in that series... There is an Ifran Pathan who is said to have tremendous potential but has failed badly in the recent past. They have still have a Tendulkar who looks like a pale shadow of the man we once knew as the best batsman.... South Africa have Pollock, Ntini, Nel...a trio that can destroy any batting line up on their day...India have Zaheer Khan, Munaf Patel and Ajit Agarkar....Zaheer and Ajit are known for their occasional displays of brilliance while Patel is still inexperienced but shows a lot of promise...
The Indian batting on the other hand has been criticized heavily for their inablity to handle pace bowling....And its really surprising that in such a time...when their batting HAS struggled against pace bowling and on bouncy wickets....they have decided to leave out VVS Laxman from their side..a player whose records will show how much he loves batting on such surfaces... Dravid once again will have to step up and inspire his team...he once again will have to lead the batting from the front..he has the best batting technique and if he delivers... I am sure the others like Yuvraj, Raina, Kaif and Mongia will be inspired..
On the other hand..South Africa have a captain Graeme Smith who I doubt would find a place in the side if he wasnt the captain...Gibbs is always unpredictable..Kallis is rock solid..South Africa's version of Rahul Dravid..has rock solid defence, is consistent... Ashwell Prince has impressed recently...
Judging from recent events....this is a series that South Africa should win easily.... Indian batsmen have still not been able to master the art of playing fast bowling on bouncy wickets while Indian seamers havent yet mastered the art of bowling fast on bouncy wickets....nor have they mastered the art of maintaining a consistent line and length...
But cricket is a game of glorious uncertainties... and I am definitely hoping that India get their act together and put up a brave resistance and make this a competetive series...
Dont forget to add your comments/feedback.
The first time I heard this line "India's tour of South Africa" was in 1996...I was a stupid kid then..and this was being advertised on Star Sports...India was playing South Africa in South Africa then... That test series was one of the best test series that I have seen.. I didnt understand cricket much back then...and test cricket was not for stupid kids like me....
What I DO remember in that series was..Allan Donald completely destroying the Indian batting line up....a man called Rahul Dravid rising to the occassion and fighting against all odds...a man who ran from nowhere to take a catch to get rid of Gary Kirsten...a fantastic catch no doubt...and that said 2 things about this man....this man loved his cricket...and he was totally dedicated...
South Africa was at their peak then...they had the best bowlers...Fannie De Villiers, Allan Donald, Brett Schultz, a young but promising Shaun Pollock and a spinner Paul Adams.... Their batting was rock solid..starting with the ever dependable Andrew Hudson and Gary Kirsten. Daryl Cullinan and Hansie Cronje brought stabliity to the middle order while a great allrounder Brian McMillan provided the balance. South Africa was the best cricket team then....
No one gave India a chance although they had just beaten the same South African side at home.. but this was an Indian cricket team that is known to be lions at home but lambs abroad...a team that is known to struggle against genuine pace bowling....lots of expectations were on Tendulkar to deliver but he falied badly and by the time he found form...South Africa had already won 2-0. Allan Donald was the bowler of the series for me...and a bowler who I would rate among the top 5 of all time.
10 years later...it is a complete different picture now.... Allan Donald is no longer there..South Africa is no longer the best team...their inspirational captain Hansie Cronje is dead..
but things are different in India aswell... the man who announced his arrival with his fantastic batting in South Africa in 1996 is now the captain of the Indian team....there is no Azharudding or Srinath...who both played brilliantly in that series... There is an Ifran Pathan who is said to have tremendous potential but has failed badly in the recent past. They have still have a Tendulkar who looks like a pale shadow of the man we once knew as the best batsman.... South Africa have Pollock, Ntini, Nel...a trio that can destroy any batting line up on their day...India have Zaheer Khan, Munaf Patel and Ajit Agarkar....Zaheer and Ajit are known for their occasional displays of brilliance while Patel is still inexperienced but shows a lot of promise...
The Indian batting on the other hand has been criticized heavily for their inablity to handle pace bowling....And its really surprising that in such a time...when their batting HAS struggled against pace bowling and on bouncy wickets....they have decided to leave out VVS Laxman from their side..a player whose records will show how much he loves batting on such surfaces... Dravid once again will have to step up and inspire his team...he once again will have to lead the batting from the front..he has the best batting technique and if he delivers... I am sure the others like Yuvraj, Raina, Kaif and Mongia will be inspired..
On the other hand..South Africa have a captain Graeme Smith who I doubt would find a place in the side if he wasnt the captain...Gibbs is always unpredictable..Kallis is rock solid..South Africa's version of Rahul Dravid..has rock solid defence, is consistent... Ashwell Prince has impressed recently...
Judging from recent events....this is a series that South Africa should win easily.... Indian batsmen have still not been able to master the art of playing fast bowling on bouncy wickets while Indian seamers havent yet mastered the art of bowling fast on bouncy wickets....nor have they mastered the art of maintaining a consistent line and length...
But cricket is a game of glorious uncertainties... and I am definitely hoping that India get their act together and put up a brave resistance and make this a competetive series...
Dont forget to add your comments/feedback.
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