'...It's Not Going to Happen': EX-South African Pacer's Verdict on Newlands Pitch Might Upset Ashwin

Team India were completely outplayed by South Africa in the opening Test of the 2-match series at the SuperSport Park. The visitors were beaten by an innings and 32 runs, leaving skipper Rohit Sharma with no other option than to admit that the team didn’t do well across departments.

While the South Africans excelled with both bat and ball, India were troubled by the hosts throughout the game. After KL Rahul’s valiant hundred in the first innings, it was Dean Elgar who had a blast in the penultimate game of his career, scoring 185 against a brittle Indian attack. On the other hand, the likes of Kagiso Rabada and debutant Nandre Burger did the maximum damage with the ball as shared 14 wickets among each other across innings to haunt India.

The action will now shift to Cape Town where the teams will have a comparatively flat deck with its own set of challenges. Former South African spearhead Allan Donald feels that if India envisages any chance of restoring parity, they need to use the new ball judiciously.

“You need to be more creative in Cape Town as wickets are a lot flatter and partnerships will stretch and that’s traditional as someone who knows it will be tougher Tests. The massive emphasis is on the new ball because traditionally if there’s a Southwesterly wind blowing across Newlands, then you know that is going to dry the pitch up,” Donald was quoted as saying by the Press Trust of India.

The former pacer further ruled out any impact of spin bowling at Newlands which will host the second Test between India and South Africa, starting January 3. The assessment isn’t great news for veteran off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin.

“There might be some little bit (assistance) available for spinners later on but it’s not going to happen. India in South Africa, no way 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,” he added.

“Indian bowlers searched too much for things to happen”

Speaking of India’s loss in Centurion, Donald highlighted the mistakes committed by the bowling unit of the touring party.

“For India, there was one debutant (Krishna). I thought 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, offside and SA batters capitalized,” Donald said.

“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,” the ‘White Lightening’ said.

(With PTI Inputs)