SA favourites as India look to conquer their own ‘final frontier’

Steve Waugh was noted back in the day to have called India the “the final frontier”. A country vast in size and unique in character, has always proven to be a difficult place to tour. For the Australians, it was a place that had resisted their efforts for 32 years before that epic series of 2001 began. Three Tests later, India somehow contrived to win the series 2-1.

It shouldn’t have been that way, but something happened during those five days in Kolkata where the Australians showed that they were indeed human, and could be beaten. During that era, Australia turned international cricket into a Best of the Rest group therapy session, having caused tremendous psychological damage to everyone. India’s win was celebrated, but upon Waugh’s return in 2004, they surrendered the prize.

India’s middle order lived through all of that. Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman know what it means to have loved, and lost and loved again. As zombies, they would be unstoppable. They are in an ever-dwindling club accompanied by Ricky Ponting, Jacques Kallis, Mark Boucher, Daniel Vettori, Harbhajan Singh, Mahela Jayawardene and Shivnarine Chanderpaul. What do all of these players have in common? They are the last to have made their Test debut before 2000. Their departure will represent an era passed. These players’ roots were planted during a time when fast bowlers roamed the plains and a Test batting average of 50 really meant something. Dravid, Tendulkar and Laxman all average 20, 16 and 6 runs less than their career averages in South Africa. That tells a story in itself. Virender Sehwag averages 26.30 in the Republic, even though it was the place he scored a century on debut back in 2001.

In 2010, these three musketeers will once more be embarking on another safari to South Africa, a country they have yet to win a series in. Tendulkar will be touring SA for the fifth time, while it will be Dravid and Laxman’s fourth trip. How they front up to the bowling, along with how their South African counterparts do the same, will go a long way in deciding who will win this incredibly tight contest.

The Centurion pitch is rumoured to be on the spicy side, as long as the weather plays ball. South Africa’s familiarity with the conditions sees them nose ahead in series stakes, especially with one of the best new ball partnerships in world cricket at the moment. Fast bowlers are said to hunt in pairs, with first Donald/Pollock then Pollock/Ntini continuing that legacy. Morne Morkel and Dale Steyn are contrasting personalities (on the field at least), which extends to their bowling. Steyn skids the ball on and can swing the ball at high pace making him a freakish individual to face when on form, like these poor souls. Morkel on the other hand gets freakish bounce, an area where the South Africans feel India are vulnerable. With the second Test being played at Kingsmead, MS Dhoni’s charges will be preparing for the chin music as we speak.

India’s bowling will pose some problems, with Zaheer Khan an expert of making the ball move in the air and off the seam. The big question will lie with the performances of Ishant Sharma, India’s very own Morkel and that man Sri Sreesanth who led India to victory in Johannesburg last time they were in the Republic. They can be unplayable at times, but also downright trite on others. Harbhajan Singh certainly edges Paul Harris, but neither player is having a good year, with their respective bowling averages of 42 and 50 being worse then methylated spirits disguised in a whisky bottle.

Interestingly enough, three of South Africa’s top six average more than 60 at Centurion, with skipper Graeme Smith being the worst at 26.50 in 15 goes. Hashim Amla, like Rahul Dravid, in that they live to bat, boasts an almost illegal 85.60 average at the other end of the table, scoring two hundreds and three fifties from six innings, one of them being a not out. They are impressive numbers, and given South Africa’s batting form from Pakistan, India picking up 20 wickets or not will most likely be the story of this series. If they do, it is almost a dead heat but something about this match-up between No 1 and 2 in world cricket says that South Africa will once more deny India any real satisfaction from this tour.

What will be guaranteed is some quality cricket, and with Gary Kirsten behind the scenes doing his thing, India believe they can win. I don’t think it will happen but they will come close. Here are some predictions:

Most runs

Hashim Amla: With his beard making him almost invulnerable to the bouncer considering how much of the blow it would absorb, the DHS-alumnis will continue to score runs as if it is going out of fashion. India saw a lot of him when South Africa were last in India, and they better prepare for a repeat viewing.

Most wickets

Morne Morkel: Khan (who will top the tables for India) and Steyn will come close, but there’s something special brewing in the lanky limbs of this potential great. He can be great, and unlike Steve Harmison, seems to be clicking up gears in the Test arena as he has gotten more experienced.

Man of the series

Morne Morkel: He’s coming. I’m telling you …

Possible Lazarus moment

JP Duminy returning and scoring a hundred after Ashwell Prince gets injured, due to constantly holding the bat handle too hard, and in doing so, breaking his own wrist (reportedly his handshake is like the Jaws of Life). Weirder things have happened, like cutting ones hand with a biltong knife.

Outburst of the series

Sri Sreesanth: He wore a headband against New Zealand. This guy has chutzpah in truck loads.

The-media-will-blow-things-completely-out-of-proportion award

Mark Boucher’s future in the South African team after he struggles with the bat.

Series result

South Africa 2 India 0, with the Proteas winning the first Test.