NEW DELHI: South Africa stands as one of the most demanding terrains globally for batsmen, and home captain Temba Bavuma believes that adaptability to the seam-friendly conditions will be key for success in the upcoming first Test against India.
With both teams boasting formidable fast bowling arsenals, the Centurion Park pitch is anticipated to offer pace and bounce right from day one on Tuesday, posing a genuine challenge for the top six of each side.
Surpassing the average first innings score in Pretoria, standing at 329 runs, by a margin of 60-80 runs could potentially grant either India or South Africa a significant advantage and control of the game.”The fact that they (India) have been able to achieve such success is because of their bowling attack and that kind of nullifies the advantage we have (of home conditions). It’s more between the batters and how the batters take on that challenge,” Bavuma told reporters on Sunday.
“For me as a batter, the bowlers are going to put you under pressure and with their batting line-up as well, they (India) have got renowned Test players and guys who performed in all conditions.”
South Africa have not had a drawn Test at home in their last 32 matches dating back to a rain-affected game against New Zealand in 2016. They have won 24 of those.
But with inclement weather predicted for the first two days in Pretoria, this could be a shortened Test as India go in search of a first ever series win in South Africa.
“There’s a lot of pride attached to the fact we have been able to keep that record intact as a South African team, all of us as players also feel that,” Bavuma said.
“Playing against India comes with a lot more eyes and a lot more scrutiny in terms of everything we do. So it’s accepting that. And the other, more obvious one, is the skill factor on the field.
“They are a determined team that want to be able to say that they have won a Test series here in South Africa. With that extra drive and motivation, it is a team against who we will have to be at our best.”
(With inputs from Reuters)
With both teams boasting formidable fast bowling arsenals, the Centurion Park pitch is anticipated to offer pace and bounce right from day one on Tuesday, posing a genuine challenge for the top six of each side.
Surpassing the average first innings score in Pretoria, standing at 329 runs, by a margin of 60-80 runs could potentially grant either India or South Africa a significant advantage and control of the game.”The fact that they (India) have been able to achieve such success is because of their bowling attack and that kind of nullifies the advantage we have (of home conditions). It’s more between the batters and how the batters take on that challenge,” Bavuma told reporters on Sunday.
“For me as a batter, the bowlers are going to put you under pressure and with their batting line-up as well, they (India) have got renowned Test players and guys who performed in all conditions.”
South Africa have not had a drawn Test at home in their last 32 matches dating back to a rain-affected game against New Zealand in 2016. They have won 24 of those.
But with inclement weather predicted for the first two days in Pretoria, this could be a shortened Test as India go in search of a first ever series win in South Africa.
“There’s a lot of pride attached to the fact we have been able to keep that record intact as a South African team, all of us as players also feel that,” Bavuma said.
“Playing against India comes with a lot more eyes and a lot more scrutiny in terms of everything we do. So it’s accepting that. And the other, more obvious one, is the skill factor on the field.
“They are a determined team that want to be able to say that they have won a Test series here in South Africa. With that extra drive and motivation, it is a team against who we will have to be at our best.”
(With inputs from Reuters)
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