Proteas need Steyn, even if it’s another turning wicket
BANGALORE: India look increasingly likely to start the second test against South Africa with just one paceman, with yet another turning wicket expected in Bangalore.
The hosts, who won the first test in Mohali by 108 runs, used Umesh Yadav and Varun Aaron very sparingly at the IS Bindra Stadium on a wicket that was tailor-made for their slow bowlers. Between them, the pair of quicks bowled a total of 36 overs in the match. Thirty of those were in the first innings.
Their standing in the pecking order was evident in the second over, where neither took the new ball, and only came on as fourth and fifth option. It was the latest indication that India will treat pace as an afterthought in this series.
Ishant Sharma, who served a suspension in the opening test, was a dominant figure at practice in the build-up to the Mohali test. Having shaken off an injury – Sharma joined up with the squad and showed that he was back at his best.
What appeals to skipper Virat Kohli about the lanky Sharma is that he has a wider skill set than Yadav and Aaron. While they may be consistently faster, touching 145kph on a regular basis, Sharma is no slouch either, but also has the ability to hold up the game and doesn’t aggression.
As it was, India didn’t need much from the quicks in the first test but Kohli brushed off the suggestion that they could go into a match with no pacemen at all, even after seeing the Mohali turner.
That is in contrast to the tourists, who are still keen to keep a balance between their quicks and their tweakers. The much-anticipated return of JP Duminy will allow the selection panel to be more flexible, as the all-rounder can fulfil some of the spinning duties.
Factor in the equally important return of Morné Morkel, and convenor of selectors Linda Zondi, coach Russell Domingo and skipper Hashim Amla have an interesting few days of discussions ahead.
Dale Steyn is struggling with a groin injury and his fitness hold the key in many ways. If, as the team hopes, it heals in time, he will lead the attack, with Morkel, and the rejuvenated Vernon Philander in tow. That would mean first test debutant Kagiso Rabada missing out.
Rabada, who is still a novice in terms of experience, has had a rapid rise over the course of the last month in India, and he has very little time to actually sit back and soak in the experience. Missing out in Bangalore, which is expected to be another slow, unresponsive track, may not be the worst thing with an anticipated, livelier Nagpur pitch next on the agenda.
That just leaves the spin options. Imran Tahir, in conducive with greater control and his constant probing, would appear almost impossible to leave out. Dean Elgar showed enough in the first Indian innings at least that he can be a handy back-up option and with Duminy providing an off-spin option, it may well be Simon Harmer who misses out.
Harmer and Rabada did little wrong in the first test. Indeed, in perhaps the biggest challenge of their young, international careers, they seemed to be inspired by the occasion, holding their own in an attack that was suddenly lacking in experience once Steyn was crocked.
It would be a tad rough to leave them out but, in test cricket, the Proteas have successfully utilised a policy that leans towards experience.
Of course, South Africa’s selection dilemma ahead of a must-win match depends on two key things. The state of the Bangalore wicket and, more pertinently, return to fitness of their premier fast bowler.