Wake-up India, the Test Series with SA is upon you!

Just one day to go for a test series that is supposed to decide who would hold on to test cricket ranking of number one and strangely, there is not much commotion in the usually, over-active India media. For some strange reason, the arrival of the SA team in India, their subsequent practice match and the lead-up to the first test match in Nagpur has had a sleepy feel to it. For me, it is extremely difficult to decipher the exact reason considering that even the Indo-Bangladesh series was talked about, even before it began! My gut feeling is that this could hurt the Indian team since the batsmen in particular are known to get a bit over-insulated if the opposition doesn’t make the expected noise. Could it be that Graeme Smith has planned this move? I seriously wish someone from the Indian camp makes some statements about the fact that the Proteas are here without a regular coach—I mean someone who has been earmarked for being fired in the very near future…tsk, tsk, when will the Indian team learn to play ‘dem mind games??!!

South Africa’s Bowling Resources Beginning to take an Impressive Shape

Parnell came and went without doing much, but in the short while that he played for the South African team, the young left-armer showed a lot of promise and in a cricketing nation that hasn’t traditionally produced left-arm seam bowlers, Parnell was rated highly and counted upon to be a big, name in the near future. Now, he is on the verge of making a comeback and if early comments are to be believed, his pace and his penetrative ability have
only improved. He would add more fuel to a bowling attack that is slowly but steadily getting back to its old glory days. With Ntini aging and Pollock no longer able to horse-carry the bowling attack, things were getting a bit difficult for Graeme Smith. However, with Mornie Morkel and Dale Steyn rising to the challenge and the young De Wet being added to the mix, things are improving very quickly. Further, all these bowlers are very young, quick, well-built and seem to have it in them to present a dependable pool at Graeme Smith’s disposal. I dare say that the Aussies might be beaming a lot about their own bench of bowlers but the SA bowlers look at par and they are a lot younger and devoid of those painfully repetitive Aussie on-field antics.

Hashim Amla, another quiet achiever in the Dravid mold

Hashim Amla has been an opening for SA in test and ODIs for quite some time now. However, it was only recently that I noticed his averages that were flashed on the TV screen and I was surprised to find out that he averages nearly 48 in his ODI career and his strike-rate too is pretty impressive. In the absence of a regular opener, with Gibbs not being able to sustain his form or fitness, Amla has been a great find for SA, particularly for the captain, Graeme Smith. I guess, most folks don't realize how integral he has become to the SA batting line-up, simply because his presence is without any kind of gimmick, leaving only his performance to speak on his behalf, and I guess, these days, being in this Dravid-like, saintly mold does deprive a deserving cricketer of some due attention. In my opinion, he does fill-in the solidity provided by Kallis whenever Kallis is not around due to his back that is now beginning to bother him on a sustained basis.