CENTURION: South Africa host Test world No.1 side India here on Sunday (today) to begin their World Test Championship campaign.
After finishing fifth in the first World Test Championship, South Africa aim to turn over a new leaf in their opening encounter in the second cycle.
It’s been a wait of over six months for South Africa to play Test cricket after their series in the West Indies, winning 2-0 in Gros Islet after losing the toss in both matches. Beating Sri Lanka by 10 wickets in the new year before losing 2-0 to Pakistan away from home, the Proteas played just five Tests in 2021, with Australia not touring in March due to Covid complications.
South Africa need to find a rhythm early given a busy WTC schedule, travelling to play New Zealand away from home in February, and returning home to take on Bangladesh in April.
Following the retirement of skipper Faf du Plessis back in February, Dean Elgar has made the ascent to the captaincy and is two from two as skipper after the successful Caribbean tour. After a duck in the first innings of the series, Elgar came back with a strong 77 to push his side to a 2-0 victory. Aiden Markram, who played a mature role in South Africa’s T20 World Cup campaign, will likely be his opening partner.
India have made a bright start to their World Test Championship campaign with three wins and two draws out of six matches and will be looking to make an ascent towards the top of the table from where they currently sit at the 4th spot.
Under the captaincy of Virat Kohli, India have performed tremendously in overseas conditions, with two series wins over Australia and currently leading 2-1 against England with the rescheduled Test set to be played in July 2022. With the Proteas still finding their feet after the retirements of several stalwarts over the past few years, Kohli cannot ask for a better opportunity to tick South Africa off of the list.
South Africa endured a 3-0 series defeat in India when the teams last met in the long format, back in 2019. In the last of those matches, the Proteas were flattened by an innings and 202 runs in Ranchi, bowled out for 162 and 133 in reply to India’s 497/9 declared.
India’s emphatic victory was set up by a blistering double hundred for Rohit Sharma, who plundered 34 boundaries in a 255-ball 212.
South Africa were hapless in response, bereft of ideas as a relentless Indian attack bowled them out twice inside 105 overs.
With the sides naming larger squads due to Covid regulations, both teams have a number of options for their final make-up when team sheets are exchanged.
South Africa have named seven quick bowlers in their squad headlined by Kagiso Rabada, though will be missing the ferocity of Anrich Nortje with a hip injury. A returning Duanne Olivier may well get the nod alongside Marco Jansen, who provides a left-arm option.
Injury clouds also hang over Lungi Ngidi, and Wiaan Mulder is tipped to provide an extra pace option while batting at No.7. Despite the Centurion surface favouring the quicks, Keshav Maharaj’s ability to take wickets while also containing the opposition batting order make him a near-certain selection.