Graeme Smith on importance of a strong start for South Africa while Amla said batting could make the difference between both teams.
Graeme Smith: ‘Crucial for South Africa to start well’ in India.
In order to give India a fight in the next two-Test series that begins on November 14, former South African batters Graeme Smith, Hashim Amla, and Faf du Plessis have put the pressure on their current Test batters. Although Amla believed that both teams’ bowling attacks were “pretty close,” Smith stated that South Africa’s top three hitters needed to improve.
Given that South Africa hasn’t won a Test in India since 2010 and a series since 2000, Amla continued, the visitors may benefit from having some rookie hitters in their lineup because they won’t be carrying the “baggage” of past tours.
“I’m hoping that with the first Test in Kolkata, it’s generally quite a good place to bat, get good value for runs,” Smith said at an SA20 event in Mumbai. “And it’s a stadium that especially if it’s full, will really make the South Africans motivated to do well in. I think it’s crucial on these types of tours that you start well. If you get behind the game in the subcontinent, it’s very difficult to fight your way back. And the batters in particular are going to really have to step up.
“The South African team will definitely be preparing for how they’re going to handle spin. But getting off to a solid start in your top three that can lay a platform for you [is crucial], there’s nothing worse than if you go two or three down and then the spinners come on and you’re against the game already.
“I think South Africa arrived here with a decent bowling attack, especially in the spin department. [Keshav] Maharaj and [Simon] Harmer can definitely do damage, they can control the game and they have the ability to turn the ball, which is wicket-taking options with spin, and then to see how [Kagiso] Rabada and the likes handle reverse swing. But I think there’s good spin options for Temba [Bavuma] to use as well.”