Stalemate in the battle between Titans

The hype created during the build up to the India-SA test series was phenomenal. In a way the hype and frenzy could be justified to an extent as the ICC number one test ranking was at stake. The series lived up to the hype and the honours were shared at the end of it. However in both the tests the competitive element was missing as either side dominated in totem in the respective victories.

In the first test at Nagpur after Zaheer’s incisive spell with the new ball, the South Africans dominated right through. In general the trusted recipe for success in test matches in India is to bat first, pile on a big score and then put pressure on the opposition through a combination of reverse swing and spin. The abrasive nature of the wicket and the outfield helps in accentuating both reverse swing and spin. The South Africans piled runs on the board courtesy of a big partnership between Kallis and Amla. In unfavourable bowling conditions the Indian bowling look very ordinary and barring Zaheer none of the bowlers looked like taking wickets. When the Indians came out to bat they were blown away by Dale Steyn who was ably supported by Morkel and Harris. Dale Styen was a treat to watch as he was equally adept at both the conventional swing and the reverse swing. Steyn’s exhitibition of pace bowling was definitely one of its kind, certainly not witnessed for a long time in Indian conditions. In the second innings, notwithstanding Sachin’s 45th test century, SouthAfricans were able to bowl out Indians and thoroughly deserved to be winners by an innings and something to spare.
There were a lot of emotional outburst from cricket crazy fans and the media alike after the defeat in the first test. The daggers were out on the bowling trio of Ishant Sharma, Harbhajhan and Amit Mishra. Given the backdrop, the news about Laxman’s return in the second test at Eden was a big boost to the battered Indian team.
In the second test at Eden Gardens, the story seemed all too similar for the Indians as SouthAfricans won the toss and were in a commanding position at Tea on the first day. Braving the early loss of Smith, Amla and Alveiro Pieterson put together a 200 plus partnership and SouthAricans were 218 for 2 at tea. Pieterson scored a debut century (third South African to achieve the feat) and Amla’s dream form continued in the form of yet another century. Post Tea the Indian bowlers struck back in a hurry and by the end of the first day the South Africans had lost 9 wickets. The momentum shift achieved by the Indians on the final session of day 1 was huge and they pretty much rode on it for the next four days. After having dismissed South Africans for 296, the Indians batted phenomenally well to get a lead in excess of 300 runs. Four batsmen scored centuries, only second instance in Indian test history of such a feat being achieved. Sachin and Shewag had set the platform with centuries on Day 2 and their feat was well complemented by Laxman and Dhoni who scored centuries as well. Laxman’s love affair with Eden thickened and he brought up his fourth century at the venue.
The South African catching left a lot to be desired as they put down 4 chances, they were clearly buckling under pressure. In the South Arican second innings, despite weather playing spoil sport on Day 4 and Amla’s heroics on Day 5 the Indians scored a thrilling win by picking up the last South African wicket with 9 legitimate deliveries left in the game. The trio of Ishant, Harbajhan and Amit Mishra silenced the critics by accounting for all the ten wickets in the second innings. Like Laxman, something at Eden Gardens brings the best out of Harbajhan, he ended up picking 5 wickets in the second innings and 8 for the match. At the end of it the honours were deservedly shared by both the teams. By virtue of squaring the series, the Indians have managed to hold on to the Number 1 spot in Test rankings.
There were invaluable lessons for the Indians in this series. They need to identify successors for Sachin, Dravid and Laxman. In the first test, when Dravid and Laxman were missing, the middle order looked very hollow and they came a cropper against Steyn and co. Some kind of a rotation policy needs to be employed to ensure that youngsters are groomed to fill in for Sachin, Dravid and Laxman. In case the right investments are not made now, it would be too big a void to fill when all three of them leave the game in another 2 to 3 years.
South Africans lack of mental toughness was once again brought to the forefront in this series. After having won the first test by an Innings and being at 218 for 1 in the first innings on day one, they should have firmly shut the door on the Indians. South Africans over the years have always choked when the moment of reckoning stares at them, this time around the story was no different. It is in the mental toughness aspect of the game that the Aussies (of the Mid 90s to Mid 2000s fame) were head and shoulders above the rest. They were mentally so tough and they always used to play the key moments of the game better than anyone else, no wonder they were the undisputed World Champions in both forms of the game for close to a dozen years. South Africans would do well to engage a full time sports psychologist who can focus on mental toughness aspects.