South Africa v India: It's advantage Proteas as two sides battle for Test supremacy

Ajit Vijaykumar 13:59 04/01/2018
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  • South Africa will be the favourites for the Freedom series.

    The build-up to the India v South Africa series started late last year and the beginning of this year sees the wait finally end. Two of the finest teams in red ball cricket are expected to leave everything out on the field as they target the bragging rights to be called the best team in the world.

    India are currently ranked No1 but haven’t tasted success in major nations outside Asia and the three-Test series will show if Virat Kohli’s team can truly claim to be the best in the world. The Proteas are ranked No2 in the world and have consistently been rated one of the top teams in the world over the years. With Test veterans AB de Villiers, Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel wearing white clothing again, the hosts are brimming with class and experience.

    With both teams boasting world-class players, we assess the strengths and weaknesses of both teams on four parameters.

    HISTORY

    South Africa’s performance in India is considerably better than that of the Indians in the Rainbow Nation. The Indians have won two and lost eight Tests in South Africa, while the Proteas have a respectable record of five wins and eight defeats in India. That means India are yet to master the South African conditions.

    However, the two Indian wins (Jo’burg 2006 and Durban 2010) came on wickets that had extra ‘juice’ in it so that should give the visitors confidence that they can make inroads if conditions are loaded in the bowlers’ favour.

    Verdict: Advantage South Africa.

    Historically, India have not fared too well on South African shores.

    Historically, India have not fared too well on South African shores.

    RECENT RECORD

    India enjoyed a stupendous 2017 across formats. They won seven Tests and lost just one. They reached the ODI Champions Trophy final and remained unbeaten in bilateral series throughout the year, apart from the one-off T20 against the Windies.

    The South Africans had an up and down year. They lost the ODI, T20 and Test series in England. In fact, they were crushed 3-1 in Tests in England, the absence of AB and Dale Steyn felt clearly.

    Verdict: Advantage India.

    Virat Kohli's India have had a stupendous 2017.

    Virat Kohli’s India have had a stupendous 2017.

    BATSMEN

    South Africa have the more experienced batting line-up, on paper. Both Hashim Amla and AB have scored more than 8,000 runs, while Kohli is the only Indian with more than 5,000. Add Faf du Plessis (45 Tests) and Dean Elgar (42) to the mix and the Proteas have some wise heads to rely on.

    However, De Villiers has just returned to the Test arena after a nearly two-year break while the Indian batting line-up of Kohli, Cheteshwar Pujara (54 Tests, pictured)), Murali Vijay (53) and Ajinkya Rahane (43) has been through the grind together, more or less, for a few seasons.

    Also, the records of Indian batsmen in South Africa is not too bad even though they haven’t played a lot there. Kohli has a century and a fifty in four innings, Rahane two fifties in four innings, Pujara a century and a fifty in seven innings.

    Verdict: Even.

    De Viller's return has evened the scales when it comes to bating.

    De Viller’s return has evened the scales when it comes to bating.

    BOWLERS

    If fully fit, the South African attack can claim to be the most lethal in the world, as India batsman Rohit Sharma himself admitted.

    While India have some excellent quicks in Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, they don’t even come close to the records of Steyn, Morne Morkel and Vernon Philander. Young quick Kagiso Rabada takes it to a new level with his pace and swing.

    Unless the wickets misbehave and spinners come into play in the second innings, the South African attack looks capable of inflicting more damage on the Indian line-up than the other way round.

    Verdict: Advantage South Africa.

    South Africa's elite crop of pacers has the edge over India's.

    South Africa’s elite crop of pacers has the edge over India’s.

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