Indian batsmen greatest test for SA
Fakir Hassen,
Indo-Asian News Service
With top pace bowlers Allan Donald and Mfuneko Ngam out of action, South Africa face their greatest bowling challenge against India's top batsmen when the three-Test series starts here this week.
Cricket commentators say that the arrival of V.V.S. Laxman to join Sachin Tendulkar, Indian captain Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid after the Indians lost a triangular one-day series with Kenya to South Africa in the final will provide a real testing ground for the hosts' attack.
Donald, dogged by injury for the past two years, was again ruled out of the Test series as doctors prescribed a six-week rest period to enable him to fully recover from a persistent stomach muscle injury. He is hoping to be part of the home and away series against the Australians at the end of the year.
Ngam has also been ruled out of the Indian games because of yet another stress fracture. He is to undergo tests with the world's best medical experts to determine why he is so prone to such injuries.
South Africa performed well without Donald in the West Indian tour earlier this year as well as the recent tour to Zimbabwe, both of which they won. They also won the triangular series without Donald, which has raised questions about whether the pace bowler's return is necessary at all.
But India might take heart at his absence because in the previous tour here by India in 1992-93 and 1996-97, Donald took 40 of the 106 wickets taken.
On a relatively tame wicket in Bloemfontein, Indian spin wizards Harbhajan Singh and Anil Kumble are expected to sow destruction against the South Africans, who will be aiming to get out the top India batsmen as quickly as possible. It is there that the absence of Donald will be either felt, or not.
The battles between Donald and opening batsman Tendulkar in previous clashes had become almost legendary. In the cases where Donald succeeded in getting Tendulkar out, it led to nervousness within the Indian side. If Tendulkar is not taken out quickly in the Tests, there could be trouble ahead for South Africa.
Meanwhile, Tendulkar is all set to beat the record set by Sir Donald Bradman of 6,996 runs in Test cricket during the South African tour. He needs just 78 more runs to achieve this.
It will be a particularly proud achievement for Tendulkar, who was acknowledged by Sir Donald before his death earlier this year as the only current batsman who could come close to him.
India's tour of South Africa : Complete coverage
--Indo-Asian News Service
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