Team India pacers will have to be a bit more patient and become more creative with the ball in the second Test against South Africa in Cape Town, feels Allan Border. Jasprit Bumrah (4/69) was the standout bowler for the visitors in the first Test in Centurion, but Prasidh Krishna (1/93), who made his Test debut in the previous match, and Shardul Thakur (1/101) struggled with line and lengths.
India lost the first Test by an innings and 32 runs, after conceding 408 in the first innings. The track in Centurion offered steep bounce and lateral movement.
IND vs SA: Are India even aware of their strengths and weaknesses?
“I know South Africa probably got the better of the conditions, no questions about that. They pitched the ball in a 5 and 5.5 meter area and gave it a chance to do something off the deck,” Donald told news agency PTI in an interview.
“But what they did better than India…they were more patient in that area and even they used the short ball a little bit more in the second innings,” he added.
Allan Donald felt that the visitors’ pacers were waiting for things to happen. “For India, there was one debutant (Prasidh Krishna). I thought (Jasprit) Bumrah, but Indian bowlers searched too much for things to happen. “They quickly reverted to shorter balls and then lost their length a bit on the shorter side and then got opened up on either side – square leg, off side and SA batters capitalized. Come Cape Town, it will be hard work and there will be a lot more energy from both teams. Cape Town will be hard work and it will bring honesty out of both the attacks,” added Donald.
“What is it that makes Cape Town way more difficult than Centurion? “You need to be more creative in Cape Town as wickets are a lot more flatter and partnerships will stretch and that’s traditionally as someone who knows it will be tougher Tests,” continued the 57-year-old.
Allan Donald felt that India need to do use the new ball prudently if they are to have any hopes of levelling the series. “The massive emphasis is on the new ball because traditionally if there’s a South westerly wind blowing across Newlands, then you know that is going to dry the pitch up,” said Donald.
“The massive emphasis is on the new ball because traditionally if there’s a South westerly wind blowing across Newlands, then you know that is going to dry the pitch up.
“But not in any way or form I think the pitch will turn,” said Donald, which means Ravichandran Ashwin could all but be benched in Cape Town.
“There might be some little bit (assistance) available for spinners later on but it’s not going to happen. India in South Africa, there’s no way that will bring Indian spinners into it. So, you can forget that part.
“But your first innings bowling could reward you, if you pitch the new ball a bit fuller and try to swing it for the first 25 to 30 overs. And then start mixing your pace,” said the Bloemfentein-born pacer.
The second Test in Cape Town starts from 3 January.
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