South Africa proves yet again why they are the no. 1 Test team in the world. A splendid game of cricket.
South Africa (second innings) 450/7 in 136 overs: The best result considering that neither team deserved to lose. South Africa finish just eight runs short of what could have been a world record chase.
South Africa (second innings) 442/7 in 134 overs: South Africa need 16 from the last two overs and India need 3 wickets.
Another twist in the tale. Faf du Plessis runout after an incredible 134. can a test match get any better? Ajinkya Rahane, another direct when needed.
What a match this has been between the two best teams in the world. South Africa need 20 from 24 balls. Five days of top class test cricket.
South Africa (second innings) 420/7 in 129 overs: Faf du Plessis still out there. He has batted throughout the day. Faf on 126 and philander is batting on 10.
South Africa (second innings) 407/6 in 123.2 overs: Duminy out for five. Goes for an expansive drive and misses. Shami knocks out the off stump.
An uncharacteristic end to a stupendous partnership. AB de Villiers walks back distraught after another inside edge goes on to hit the stumps. Could this be the game changer?
South Africa (second innings) 402/5 in 123.2 overs: Finally a wicket, AB de Villiers departs for 103.
400 up for South Africa. Shami into the attack. Indian fans hope its not too late. SA well on course for a historic win.
South Africa (second innings) 392/4 in 120.3 overs: AB de Villiers gets his 18th century in tests and after a subdued celebration focuses on the job at hand. The partnership is worth 195 now.
South Africa (second innings) 389/4 in 120 overs: Faf du Plessis batting on 115 and AB de Villiers batting on 98. Will all of India's hard work be undone by one incredible partnership?
South Africa (second innings) 366/4 in 115 overs: Faf du Plessis batting on 108 and AB de Villiers batting on 87.
South Africa very much in the hunt now, Faf has been a picture of dogged determination and immense concentration. SA proves again why they are the best side in the world.
Faf du Plessis completes a remarkable hundred. SA now needs 98. What a knock it has been, can he take SA all the way?
South Africa (second innings) 345/4 in 110 overs: Faf du Plessis batting splendidly on 91 accompanied by AB de Villiers on 83. What a turnaround these two have accomplished.
Remarkable stuff from Faf du Plessis, he is playing what could be a splendid match winning knock. A rivetting final session awaits what has been a great test match thus far.
South Africa (second innings) 331/4 in 105 overs: AB de Villiers batting on 72, F du Plessis batting on 88. Brilliant batting from these two batsmen.
"Here we go" chants the crowd. South African fans getting behind their team. Can India's most successful captain pull a rabbit out of the hat now?
India must take a wicket or two before tea or the last session is going to be hard work for them.
South Africa (second innings) 314/4 in 99 overs: Going like this South Africa could have the last laugh. Faf du Plessis batting on 78 and AB de Villiers on 66.
South Africa (second innings) 298/4 in 94 overs: AB de Villiers batting on 63, F du Plessis batting on 65. This partnership now worth 101 and looks good for more.
South Africa (second innings) 281/4 in 90 overs: (AB de Villeirs 57 *, Faf du Plessis 55*).
South Africa (second innings) 263/4 in 85 overs: India must strike with the new ball, Faf and AB are capable of taking the game away from India. This partnership now worth 66 from 146 balls.
With the two men out in the middle, will South Africa fancy their chances?
Faf du Plessis gets his fifty with a glorious pull shot as Shami bangs this one short.
AB de Villiers hits some enterprising strokes, Zaheer's first over with new ball goes for eight runs.
South Africa (second innings) 247/4 in 80 overs: Faf and AB are fighting it out. Second new ball taken
Dhoni rushing through the overs as new ball is due soon.
India starts post-lunch session with spin. Ashwin has some bowling to do, can he pick up a wicket or two?
Another excellent session with 98 runs scored by South Africa and two wickets picked up by India.
South Africa (second innings) 236/4 in 74 overs: In the last over before lunch from Shami, a very close shout for LBW and AB de Villiers responds with a boundary.
India getting through the overs quickly as Ashwin and Kohli bowl in tandem.
South Africa (second innings) 227/4 in 70 overs: Virat Kohli into the attack. Dhoni using his pacers in short bursts. AB de Villiers batting on 18 and F du Plessis batting on 40.
South Africa (second innings) 214/4 in 65 overs: AB de Villiers batting on 9 and F du Plessis batting on 35. India introduces spin, Ashwin brought into the attack 30 minutes before lunch.
Zaheer did well to bring that one back into the right hander, a big inside edge on that one Kallis does'nt look a happy man. Zaheer takes 300 wickets in tests with that dismissal.
South Africa (second innings) 197/4 in 60.4 overs: The experienced Zaheer Khan traps Jacques Kallis lbw. kallis departs after making 34. A very important wicket for India.
South Africa (second innings) 195/3 in 60 overs: South Africa has scored quickly after losing Peterson. Fifty runs in the last ten overs. Kallis batting on 32 and F du Plessis on 28.
Kallis has been the aggressor today. He looks quite comfortable out there. Kallis has scored a run a ball 28 and is going strong.
South Africa (second innings) 165/3 in 55 overs: F du Plessis batting on 17 and Jacques Kallis batting on 14.
Zaheer Khan into the attack, the variable bounce of the surface does'nt make Proteas task any easier.
Excellent delivery from Mohammed Shami, a faint inside edge and the ball balloons on to the stumps. In walks SA's 'rock of Gibraltor' Jacques Kallis.
South Africa (second innings) 143/3 in 49.2 overs: India strikes early. Shami gets the break through. Alviro Peterson departs after a well made 76.
Faf du Plessis can be a key wicket, we all know what a courageous knock he played in his debut Test match to save the game against Australia.
Shami and Sharma Start the Proceedings for India. The game is poised for an exciting finish with all three results possible.
South Africa (second innings) 138/2 in 45 overs: Petersen, Du Plessis are at the crease when play was called for the day. Petersen batting on 76, while Du Plessis is batting on 10. India needs 8 more wickets to win the match.
South Africa (second innings) 132/2 in 41 overs: Petersen is going strong on 74. Du Plessis gives him company.
South Africa (second innings) 118/2 in 36.2 overs: Amla attempts to leave the ball, but misjudges it again and finds his stumps being rattled by Mohammad Shami for four.
South Africa (second innings) 108/1 in 30.4 overs: Smith is run-out through a direct hit via Rahane. Smith falls for 44.
South Africa (second innings) 107/0 in 30 overs: SA openers make merry as they thrash the Indian bowling all over the park. Petersen is batting on 61, while Smith is batting on 44.
South Africa (second innings) 77/0 in 24 overs: Petersen has got the measure of Indian bowling, batting on 54, while Smith toils on a fighting 22.
South Africa (second innings) 67/0 in 19 overs: Petersen has reached his 50 in just 87 balls with 7 hits to the fence. Smith gives him company on 15. Indian bowlers struggle for wickets.
South Africa (second innings) 51/0 in 14 overs: Petersen is the more agressive, batting on 40 not out, while Smith gives him company on 10. India looks for an early breakthrough.
South Africa (second innings) 38/0 in 11 overs: A few shouts were turned down, otherwise it was a good session for Indian bowlers. Indian bowlers need to produce a few more tricks to get the upperhand post lunch. Petersen is batting on 28, Smith on 9.
South Africa (second innings) 37/0 in 10 overs: Petersen is batting on 27, while Smith is struggling on 9. Smith has given few half chances. But Petersen is solid on the other end.
South Africa (second innings) 19/0 in 5 overs: SA openers begin confidently, scoring runs whenever they gets opportunity. Smith is batting on 5, Petersen on 13.
India 421 all out in 120.4 overs: Shami is bowled out for 4, Imran Tahir is the bowler. India takes lead of 457 runs.
India 405/9 in 118.5 overs: India gives no shot to a Tahir's straighter delivery, is ruled out plumb for 4. India 441 runs ahead of South Africa in second innings.
India 405/8 in 118 overs: Ishant and Zaheer make merry as their edges and top edges go for boundary. SA bowlers frustrated. India lead goes to 441.
India 384/8 in 113.5 overs: Dhoni slashes hard, but finds fielder at the deep. Philander is the bowler. Dhoni falls for 29.
India 379/7 in 112 overs: Dhoni looks for few extra runs to pose a big target for SA to chase. Dhoni batting on 28 not out. Zaheer gives him company.
India 369/7 in 109.2 overs: Ashwin gives a simple catch to Du Plessis at cover for seven off Philander's bowling.
India 368/6 in 109 overs: Dhoni is looking for some quick runs to put up a big total on the board. Dhoni is batting on 19.
India 358/6 in 106.2 overs: Rahane edges it to slips to Smith off Duminy's bowling. Rahane made 15. India makes 74 runs in the first session on fourth day. India ahead by 394 runs. India will look to bat for another half an hour to put a target more than 400.
India 344/5 in 103 overs: Dhoni and Rahane are looking for quick runs to put an improbable targt for SA. Dhoni batting on 11, Rahane on 6. India takes an overall lead of 380 runs.
India 327/5 in 98.3 overs: Kohli falls for a disappointing 96. Kohli tries to cuts Duminy but gets an edge off his bat to AB de Villiers.
India 325/4 in 97.5 overs: A low ball from Kallis uproots the stumps of Rohit Sharma who falls for six.
India 315/3 in 93.1 overs: Pujara tries to cut a short ball, but gets an outside edge to keeper de Villiers off Kallis. Pujara made a brilliant 153.
India 314/2 in 92 overs: Pujara is batting on 90 and looks good for another straight ton. Pujara is batting on 152.
India 305/2 in 86.3 overs: Pujara reaches 150-run mark, the fourth time in his career. He has, including this one, six centuries in Test career.
India 304/2 in 85 overs: Pujar is batting on 149, eyeing another double hundred, while Kohli is batting on 87, looking to become the first No 4 Indian batsman to score a hundred in each innings of a Test.
India 294/2 in 83 overs: The new ball is taken and Pujara, Kohli are playing it cautiously as the ball is swinging all over the place. Steyn and Philander are making the ball talk. India is in command with a lead of of 330 runs in the second innings.
Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli have put India on the drivers seat with a lead of 320 runs. India would look to shut the door on South Africa by increasing the lead as we move closer to the start of day four in the first Test match.
Ton-up Pujara puts India in firm control in 1st Test vs SA
India had a good day with total command over the proceedings. India would look to hit as many runs as possible in the first session before inviting South Africa to bat again to force a win. India looks favourite to win the match from here on.
India 284/2 in 78 overs (at stumps): India ends day 2 on a big lead of 320 runs. Pujara is batting on 135, while Kohli is unbeaten on 77. India looks good to post a big second innings total that will take the match away from South Africa.
India 265/2 in 74 overs: India is ahead of 301 runs against South Africa. The partnership between Pujara and Kohli is unbeaten 172-runs for the third wicket. Pujara is batting on 131. Kohli on 62. India looks good to get more runs and put up a total way far away for South Africa.
India 251/2 in 69 overs: Pujara is batting on 122, while Pujara is batting on 57. India looks to set a big target for South Africa to scale it down.
India 239/2 in 64 overs: Kohli, Pujara have stitched together an unbeaten 146-run patnership. They are thrashing the best bowling attack in the world. Pujara is batting on 114, while Kohli is on 53. South Africa is clueless at the moment. It has lost Morne Morkel due to injury and finding it difficult to contain the Indian batting duo.
India 223/2 in 60.2 overs: Pujara reaches his 100 off 168 balls with 13 fours. Pujara hits a superb square drive to reach his 100. Pujara and Kohli have struck up 100-run partnership for third wicket.
India 204/2 in 57.1 overs: Kohli reaches his 50 off 76 balls with 6 fours. India is dictating the terms now. Pujara going strong on 83.
India 176/2 in 54 overs: Pujara and Kohli are on top of SA bowling. They are not letting any chance of hitting the bowlers all over the park. Pujara is batting on 69, Kohli on 37. India ahead of SA by 212 runs. India will look to bat as long as possible to shut SA out of the game.
India 151/2 in 49 overs: Pujara survived a close chance, when Imran Tahir dropped a return catch. Kohli is batting on 30 not out. Pujara on 52.
India 137/2 in 43 overs: Pujara shows tremendous concentration to reach his 50. Pujara and Kohli make life difficult for SA bowlers.
India 126/2 in 43 overs: Pujara is batting on 42, Kohli gives him company on 15. The two batsmen look to give SA a tough target to chase.
India 109/2 in 40 overs: AB de Villiers bowls the last over before tea. Pujara and Kohli play out the over. India takes a lead of 145 by tea on third day.
India 104/2 in 38 overs: Pujara is batting on a fighting 36, while Kohli gives him company on 5. Pujara and Kohli need to fight hard to take India to a good score and set SA an imposing total.
India 93/2 in 33.5 overs: Vijay attempts to flick a leg side delivery, but edges it to keeper de Villiers off Kallis bowling. Vijay falls for 39.
India 75/1 in 28 overs: Vijay is batting on 37, battling it out in the middle with determination, while Pujara has dropped anchor at the other end, batting on 15 not out.
India 53/1 in 23 overs: Vijay is batting on fighting 28, while Pujara gives him company with 6 not out.
India 38/1 in 19 overs: SA pacers are spitting fire with their bowling as they look to tear apart Indian batting attack. Vijay and Pujara are at the crease.
India 31/1 in 14 overs: After the early wicket of Shikhar Dhawan, Vijay and Pujara looks to resurrect the innings. Vijay batting on 12, Pujara 4. Lunch called.
India 23/1 in 7.3 overs: Dhawan gets an edge behind the wicket, where Kallis takes a good catch at second slip. Dhawan falls for 15. Philander is the bowler. Philander becomes sixth fastest to take 100 Test wickets.
India 20/1 in 5 overs: Indian openers have faced the fury of Steyn and Philander pretty well at the moment till now. Dhawan and Vijay have cut the risks and look set for a big score.
South Africa 244 all out in 75 overs: Zaheer gets Morkel out bowled. India takes lead of 36 runs.
South Africa 239/9 in 73.5 overs: Zaheer induces an edge off du Plessis, Dhoni makes no mistake. Du Plessis falls for 20.
South Africa 237/8 in 72.3 overs: Ishant Sharma bowls a short delivery, Styen edges it behind to Rohit Sharma for 10.
South Africa 226/7 in 69.1 overs: Zaheer sends a perfect swinging delivery for Philander to edge it behind, Ashwin takes a good catch at first slip. Philander falls for 59 off 86 balls.
South Africa 218/6 in 67 overs: Philander cracks a lovely square drive off Ishant's bowling to race to his 50.
India looks for early wickets on Day 3, while South Africa eyes a big lead in first innings.
India stages dramatic turnaround through their pacers on second day of first Test
At stumps on second day: South Africa 213/6 in 66 overs:
At stumps on second day: South Africa 213/6 in 66 overs: A total of 11 wickets fell on the second day. Indian pacers showed great skills to put SA batsmen on backfoot. Lot will rest on how the third day starts. If India can take early wickets, then SA would have a lot of catching up to do. India needs to come afresh and make quick breakthroughs to dicate terms on the match. SA's pair of Plessis and Philander would look to continue the good work and frustrate the Indian bowlers.
South Africa 213/6 in 66 overs: Philander and Plessis are at the crease. Philander going strong on an unbeaten 48. Plessis not out on 17. SA trails India's innings by 67 runs.
South Africa 196/6 in 61 overs: Philander and Plessis bring up 50-run partnership for the seventh wicket. Philander batting on 34, Plessis on 14.
South Africa 175/6 in 55 overs: Philander and Plessis bring some calm to the match currently, trying to battle out the storm. Indian bowlers trying hard to puchase wickets.
South Africa 151/6 in 49 overs: Ishant has taken three wickets, Shami two while Zaheer one to bring the momentum in India's favour. Plessis and Philander are at the crease.
South Africa 146/6 in 44.3 overs: Shami gets one ball to keep its line and rap the pads of AB de Villiers who falls for 13.
South Africa 145/5 in 44.1 overs: A good bowling change by MS Dhoni. Shami gets a wicket off the first delivery of his new spell, making Duminy edge it behind to slip for two to Vijay.
South Africa 141/4 in 43 overs: Ishant and Zaheer scalped three wickets quickly to put SA under pressure. Two new batsmen AB de Villiers and Duminy are at the crease.
South Africa 130/4 in 39 overs: Zaheer gets one to rap the pads of Smith on the line of stumps. Smith takes the long walk back to the pavilion for a fighting 68.
South Africa 130/3 in 38.2 overs: Ishant gets one delivery to nip in and new batsman Kallis gets the bat down late and is out plumb for golden duck.
South Africa 130/2 in 38.1 overs: Amla leaves a ball from Ishant, but it touches the off stump and gets the South African batsman bowled for 36.
South Africa 118/1 in 35 overs: Smith and Amla have struck up an unbeaten 81-run partnership for the second wicket. Smith batting on 62, Amla batting on 30 not out. Tea called.
South Africa 107/1 in 32 overs: Smith is batting on 53 not out, giving Indian bowlers a difficult task to get him out. Smith has come out on top against Indian bowlers.
South Africa 100/1 in 30.1 overs: Smith is batting on a fighting 47, while Amla takes the attack in India's camp, by hitting few lusty hits all over the park.
South Africa 69/1 in 24 overs: Smith is fighting it out in the middle with a fighting unbeaten 31, although he doesn't look to be in the best of nick. Amla looks solid on the other end, with an unbeaten 12.
South Africa 51/1 in 18 overs: Smith survives on couple of occasions, with Zaheer being the unlucky bowler. Ashwin drops Smith once in slips. Smith battling it out at 19 out. SA reaches 50.
South Africa 37/1 in 13.1 overs: Ishant gets an incoming delivery to hit the pads of Petersen and gets him out plumb for 21.
South Africa 22/0 in 10 overs: South African openers keep their wickets intact as they battle out the 10 overs before lunch. Smith, Petersen batting on 11 each. Lunch called.
A very defensive and sedate by the Proteas so far, Indian pacers Zaheer and Shami did a fine job to keep them tied down.
South Africa 10 in 5 overs: Graeme Smith batting on 7 and Alviro Peterson batting on 3.
Alviro Peterson and skipper Graeme Smith out in the middle, India start off with Zaheer.
India 280 in 103 overs: Shami falls to Morkel who bowls out the Indian pacer for a duck. India loses their last five wickets rather cheaply on the second day. India bowled out for 280.
India 278/9 in 102 overs: Ishant Sharma is out for a four-ball duck, as Philander breaks through the defence of the pacer.
India 264/8 in 99.5 overs: Zaheer is out plumb to Philander for a golden duck.
India 264/7 in 99.4 overs: Rahane flirts with a ball outside off-stump and pays the penalty. Rahane attempts to defend the ball, but edges it behind to keeper de Villiers off Philander's bowling. Rahane made 47.
India 264/6 in 99 overs: Dhoni edges it behind to keeper AB de Villiers for 19 off Morkel's bowling. Dhoni was struggling with the bounce and wasn't long he had to return to dug-out. Rahane is going strong on 47. Ashwin joins him at the crease.
India 261/5 in 95 overs: Rahane nears 50 as both he and Dhoni begins on a cautious note. Only six runs have come off in the first five over on the second day. Rahane is batting on 47.
India begins second day with Dhoni and Rahane at the crease. Lot rests on this duo to take India to a big total.
Earlier on the first day, Kohli has cracked a ton to put India on the driver's seat.
Kohli cracks century as India fights hard to reach 255/5
India ends day one at 255 for 5. Dhoni is playing on 17 while Rahane is unbeaten on 43.
India ends day one at 255 for 5. Dhoni is playing on 17 while Rahane is unbeaten on 43.
India after 85 overs: 251 for 5 (Ajinkya Rahane 42*, MS Dhoni 14*).
India after 80 overs: 227 for 5 (Ajinkya Rahane 31*, MS Dhoni 6*).
India 219 for 5 in 75.3 overs: Kohli drives Kallis to straight to Duminy at covers.
India after 75 overs: 219 for 4 (Ajinkya Rahane 30*, Virat Kohli 119*).
The fifth wicket partnership between Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane has already yielded 68 runs for India.
India after 70 overs: 195 for 4 (Ajinkya Rahane 19*, Virat Kohli 107*).
Virat Kohli plays a special innings under trying conditions. The Delhi boy scores his fifth century, his second outside the sub-continent. His century has also ensured that India is in the driver's seat as of now. Kohli's century inlcudes 16 fours and has come up in 140 balls.
India after 60 overs: 173 for 4 (Ajinkya Rahane 14*, Virat Kohli 91*).
India 151/4 in 53.2 overs: Philander bowls to Rohit Sharma outside the off stump and Sharma in his attempt to play the ball nicks it to the wicket-keeper.
India after 50 overs: 143 for 3 (Rohit Sharma 11*, Virat Kohli 78*).
India 113/3 in 42.4 overs: A big blow for India as Cheteshwar Pujara is run out. Kohli plays Tahir towards midwicket and calls for a single. Kohli runs but changes his mind. However it’s too late for Pujara as he is already at the halfway mark.
India after 40 overs: 101 for 2 (Cheteshwar Pujara 23*, Virat Kohli 55*).
India crosses the 100 mark in the 40th over.
What a way to bring up his half century. Virat Kohli races to his 8th fifty with a boundary off Tahir.
India after 35 overs: 86 for 2 (Cheteshwar Pujara 22*, Virat Kohli 42*).
Kohli and Pujara trying to ensure no further damage is done. So far the consolidation approach has worked for India despite the initial hiccups.
India after 30 overs: 74 for 2 (Cheteshwar Pujara 20*, Virat Kohli 33*).
India must be pretty happy with the way things have gone for them in the last 10 overs. From 24 for 2, they have reached 70 for 2 after 27 overs going into the lunch session. Virat Kohli is going strong on 32 off as many balls while Pujara is unbeaten on 18.
India crosses 50 in 24th over.
Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara have added 25 runs in 48 balls.
India after 20 overs: 32/2 (Cheteshwar Pujara 8*, Virat Kohli 4*)
India 24/2 in 15.1 overs: Morkel bowls fast and Vijay, who had been leaving the outside off stump deliveries, this time plays it without showing any movement. The ball kisses the bat and goes straight to the keeper.
India 17/1 in 9 overs: Steyn strikes early. Steyn had been troubling Dhawan with short balls. He balls short yet again and Dhawan goes for the pull but fails to middle it. The ball goes to fine leg where Tahir takes a simple catch.
India after 5 overs: 8/0 (Murali Vijay 4*, Shikhar Dhawan 4*)
India starts with Shikhar Dhawan and Murali Vijay.
India won the toss and elected to bat in the first test against top-ranked South Africa at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg.
India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni opted to front up to South Africa's pace attack on a traditionally quick, bouncy pitch on the opening morning of the two-test series between the No. 1- and No. 2-ranked teams.
India recalled Zaheer Khan to boost its own seam attack; the left-armer's first test appearance in a year. Virat Kohli was listed to bat at No. 4 in India's first test since Sachin Tendulkar's retirement. Cheteshwar Pujara was to bat at No. 3 and Rohit Sharma at 5. Batsman Ajinkya Rahane also came into the Indian side.
South Africa fielded what it considers its strongest lineup, with Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel and Vernon Philander forming the seam attack. Legspinner Imran Tahir was also retained and batsman Hashim Amla returned after missing South Africa's last test against Pakistan in October for family reasons.
South Africa cannot be overtaken at the summit of the rankings this series but India can close the gap to one point with a 2-0 sweep. The top team has gone 13 series unbeaten, while India last won a series away from home in 2011.
Lineups:
South Africa: Graeme Smith (captain), Alviro Petersen, Hashim Amla, Jacques Kallis, AB de Villiers, Faf du Plessis, JP Duminy, Vernon Philander, Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel, Imran Tahir.
India: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (captain), Murali Vijay, Shikar Dhawan, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ishant Sharma, Zaheer Khan, Mohammed Shami.
India vs South Africa: Battles within the battle?
It just took 16 balls for Rohit Sharma and the rest of the Indian players to realize that they are on the other side of the hemisphere as Steyn, Morkel and Tsotsobe made the visitors smell leather on a regular basis during the one day series as the Proteas dominated the one-dayers.
The pace trio of Steyn, Morkel and Tsotsobe caught the Indians on the wrong foot as the pace and bounce of the wicket proved to be too good for the Indians to handle. The likes of Kohli, Sharma and Dhawan have to pull up their socks very quickly if they have to avoid humiliation which has been the story for most of the South African summer.
The first Test is due to start on December 18 and here is a look at the battles within the battle that has everything to make it an intriguing contest:
Shikhar Dhawan vs Morne Morkel: Shikhar Dhawan has been in prolific form off late and would look to take it forward in the upcoming Test matches. Dhawan loves to take the attack to the opposition and in no time can take the session away from the Proteas. Morne Morkel on the other hand has shown in the one-dayers what he can do with the ball. The extra bounce that he generates from his height can trouble any batsmen in the world, let alone Shikhar Dhawan.
Virat Kohli vs Dale Steyn: The quickest to reach 5000 one day runs, Virat Kohli has been a sensation with the bat in hand for India. His form is one of the main reasons behind India’s recent success and holds the middle-order together after the departure of Dravid and Laxman. Dale Steyn might have other ideas as his lethal out swingers are good enough to get the fish out of water and Kohli will have to stand up to the occasion as there aren’t many who are not STEYNED in world cricket.
Rohit Sharma vs Vernon Philander: Vernon Philander is just the ideal man to partner Steyn and Morkel in Test matches as the duo will start off by piling on the pressure which will work in Philander’s favour as he is no get away bowler. His precise line and length has got the better off most players in the world and Rohit Sharma has to be patient to survive the test. Sharma however, has the technique to tackle the paceman but whether he has the temperament or not, we will have to wait and see.
Hashim Amla vs Ishant Sharma: Ishant Sharma has got the pace to trouble most players in the world. In conditions which assist fast bowlers, he can come in handy with the new ball. Ishant has shown glimpses of his returning to form in the 3rd ODI, picking up 4 wickets. He has considerable experience bowling at the highest level, which he could put to good use in the next few days. Hashim Amla will do all he can to stave off the new bowl challenge. Amla’s record against the Indians has been right out of the top draw and he would look to carry on the same momentum in the Test series.
Greame Smith vs Zaheer Khan: Greame Smith has been Zaheer Khan’s bunny for as long as we can think of and this will be an ideal opportunity for Smith to get rid of that tag and take on Khan right from the word go. However, knowing Zaheer, he would be firing in all cylinders against Smith once he takes the new ball. This one might just be the best contest of the Test series.
Jacques Kallis vs Mohammad Shami: Jacques Kallis is only second to Sachin Tendulkar in terms of the number of Test centuries he has scored over the years and would like to increase that number against the Indians who are yet to play their best cricket. Kallis has been the mainstay of the South African batting for more than a decade and removing him will take some doing. The kind of spirit Mohammed Shami has shown in his short stint with the Indian team, it goes without saying that he would be up and running for the battle.
