Khalid Mohidin previews the 2nd Test between South Africa and India at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune.
Setting the scene:
The Proteas aim to bounce back after a heavy defeat in the 1st Test against India. They showed flashes of brilliance on a tricky surface with clear signs of a base to improve on.
The major topic of discussion, like it was in the 1st Test, is the Proteas’ starting XI. The debate will be around whether the Proteas should choose an extra batsman or drop a spinner for a seamer.
The conditions will play its part and as Faf du Plessis explained in his pre-match press conference the Proteas are expecting a pitch that turns.
India have only played one Test at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune. In 2017, they took on Australia and suffered a massive 333-run defeat in a low-scoring game.
India showed that they too can struggle against spin as they capitulated to the left-arm spin of Steve O’Keefe who took 12 wickets in the match. Australia never picked three spinners in that match, they backed their strengths and it worked in their favour.
According to the pitch report on the day, there was no gloss and no shine on the pitch. There was a decent amount of grass, but the pitch seemed abrasive with plenty of cracks which implied that the strip would deteriorate rapidly as the game progressed.
It’s hard to read into one match, but batting first seemed to be key and Australia won the toss and batted first in what was a dominant win for the visitors.
Based on initial inspections it seems that the wicket will be similar.
Du Plessis emphasised the importance of winning the toss, which will help his side land the first punch.
WATCH: “WE COME BACK ALMOST ALWAYS” – FAF DU PLESSIS
Team selection:
There are two major decisions the Proteas need to make. Whether they will bring Zubayr Hamza into the side and whether they will bring Lungi Ngidi into the side, in conditions that should suit the seamer.
The instinctive decision based on the turning-nature of the pitch would be to play three spinners, but the manner in which Dane Piedt was easily dealt with by the India batsmen might tempt the proteas into dropping the right-arm spinner.
Opting for the extra pace option might seem out of place, but saving Kagiso Rabada for his reverse-swing capabilities as the day’s go by, is more valuable to the Proteas’ hunt to take 20 wickets – a task that has been pinned as a priority for victory by Du Plessis.
Ngidi’s inclusion could see him open the bowling with Vernon Philander, allowing Du Plessis to pick Rabada in key moments of the match.
READ: LUNGI NGIDI COULD GIVE THE PROTEAS THE EDGE
With regards to Zubayr Hamza, he has shown in previous spin camps and the SA A tour that he is quite comfortable against spin. If he has been earmarked as Hashim Amla’s future replacement then there is no reason why he shouldn’t be given a chance on this tour. Based on Theunis de Bruyn’s performances in the 1st Test, this would be a tempting option.
Writer’s Proteas XI:
1 Aiden Markram
2 Dean Elgar
3 Zubayr Hamza
4 Temba Bavuma
5 Faf du Plessis (c)
6 Quinton de Kock
7 Vernon Philander
8 Senuran Muthusamy
9 Kagiso Rabada
10 Keshav Maharaj
11 Lungi Ngidi
India predicted XI for 1st Test:
1 Virat Kohli (c)
2 Ajinkya Rahane
3 Rohit Sharma
4 Mayank Agarwal
5 Cheteshwar Pujara
6 Hanuma Vihari
7 Ravichandran Ashwin
8 Ravindra Jadeja
9 Wriddhiman Saha (wk)
10 Ishant Sharma
11 Mohammed Shami
The 2nd Test starts on Thursday at 6:00 am SAST at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune.
Photo: Gavin Barker/BackpagePix
