South Africa set to hit India with pace battery

JOHANNESBURG—South Africa are set to pick an all-pace bowling attack as they seek to exploit India’s frailty against the lifting ball in the first Test starting at the Wanderers Stadium Friday.
Left-arm spinner Nicky Boje was not replaced after his sudden retirement from international cricket Tuesday while unorthodox left-armer Paul Adams was released from the squad to play for his franchise team. That leaves a pace battery of Makhaya Ntini, Dale Steyn, Andre Nel and Shaun Pollock, backed up by all-rounder Jacques Kallis, to mount an all-out assault on the Indian batting.
The evidence of India’s tour so far suggests that it could be a winning tactic. India’s top order batting failed miserably when they were trounced 4-0 in a one-day series. And their leading batsmen failed to fire in two innings in a warm-up match against the Rest of South Africa last weekend, even though the Indians won with a day to spare. Yet South Africa’s plan could backfire if the Indian batsmen live up to their pedigree.
Captain Rahul Dravid, battling to be fit for the Test after suffering a finger injury in the third one-day international, made his maiden Test century at the Wanderers, a ground where India have yet to be beaten in a Test match after drawing both their previous encounters there. The Wanderers pitch was once regarded as second only to Perth in Australia in terms of pace and bounce but in recent years it has lost its sting and has often proved a batting paradise. There was a good covering of grass Wednesday, however, although that could change before play starts. Ironically, the best bowling figures in a South Africa-India Test at the Wanderers were recorded by a spinner - India’s Anil Kumble, who took six for 53 in a marathon 44 overs in 1992/93. Kumble is again expected to be a key player with his ability to make good use of pitches which offer bounce.
Sachin Tendulkar, India’s master batsman, has yet to hit top form in South Africa but there were glimpses of his best when he top-scored with 55 in the final one-day international, while VVS Laxman, who spent useful time at the crease in making 23 and 31 against the Rest, has shown that he is a capable player against fast bowler. The return of Sourav Ganguly adds experience and skill to the Indian batting line-up, although his record against short-pitched bowling is not encouraging, while Virender Sehwag has had a miserable tour in which he has only scored 39 runs in five innings.—Agencies