Pretoria : Batsman Temba Bavuma They say South AfricaThe lack of red-ball cricket this year has been a major disadvantage and a significant factor in their disappointing performance so far in the first Test against India at Centurion Park.
With nine wickets in the second innings remaining on a spicy pitch, the tourists took a lead of 146 runs. They came close to a wicket for 16 after bowling out the home team for 197 runs late in the day.
South Africa had previously played five Tests in 2021, and have not played a Test since June when they won in the West Indies. It is India’s 15th Test this year, and they are coming off a home series against New Zealand that ended earlier this month.
“I don’t want to be accused of making excuses for my game, but it does have an effect,” Bavuma said after scoring 52 in South Africa’s first innings.
“If you look at the way you played on the first day. I don’t think it’s the standard and intensity at which we can play. And one of the factors is the lack of match practice. You can have as many nets as you want. But there’s nothing like going out in the middle.
“There’s not much we can do as players, but there is this disparity in the number of games. We have to mentally find a way to face the challenge.”
South Africa will be hoping to restrict India to a manageable target, or take the worst time out of the game with rain predicted for the fifth day on Thursday.
Either way, they will have to find a way to counter the Indian fast bowlers, especially Mohammed Shami, who appeared unstoppable at times on Tuesday as he registered figures of 5-44.
“He is a world-class bowler, so I don’t think it’s something we didn’t expect,” Bavuma said. “As batsmen we have to move our defense back and forth as much as we can. But if he bowls a good ball, congratulations to him.”
With nine wickets in the second innings remaining on a spicy pitch, the tourists took a lead of 146 runs. They came close to a wicket for 16 after bowling out the home team for 197 runs late in the day.
South Africa had previously played five Tests in 2021, and have not played a Test since June when they won in the West Indies. It is India’s 15th Test this year, and they are coming off a home series against New Zealand that ended earlier this month.
“I don’t want to be accused of making excuses for my game, but it does have an effect,” Bavuma said after scoring 52 in South Africa’s first innings.
“If you look at the way you played on the first day. I don’t think it’s the standard and intensity at which we can play. And one of the factors is the lack of match practice. You can have as many nets as you want. But there’s nothing like going out in the middle.
“There’s not much we can do as players, but there is this disparity in the number of games. We have to mentally find a way to face the challenge.”
South Africa will be hoping to restrict India to a manageable target, or take the worst time out of the game with rain predicted for the fifth day on Thursday.
Either way, they will have to find a way to counter the Indian fast bowlers, especially Mohammed Shami, who appeared unstoppable at times on Tuesday as he registered figures of 5-44.
“He is a world-class bowler, so I don’t think it’s something we didn’t expect,” Bavuma said. “As batsmen we have to move our defense back and forth as much as we can. But if he bowls a good ball, congratulations to him.”
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