CAPE TOWN: Faf Du Plessis admits his South Africa side are out for revenge when their much-awaited three-Test series against India gets underway at Newlands on Friday.
Back in 2015, the Proteas, who had not lost an away series for nearly a decade, were thumped 3-0 in India, on pitches tailor-made for the home spinners.
But now about to play Virat Kohli and Co. on their own patch the South Africa skipper was adamant that the hosts wanted to dish out some pain of their own.
“I don’t know when the next Test series against India is, but it’s probably the last time all of us play against India and there’s no better way than playing a series in South Africa,” said du Plessis, speaking of himself, Dale Steyn, AB de Villiers and Morne Morkel.
“We were disappointed the last time we went there, and we’ve got a score to settle.”
Luckily for Du Plessis the numbers do not suggest anything other than a South African victory. In 17 Tests in South Africa going back to the first Friendship Series a quarter century ago, India have won just two to the hosts’ eight. And at Newlands, in the shadow of Table Mountain, South Africa’s record since they were readmitted to the international fold is an imposing 20-4. Other than Australia, no visiting team has tasted success here.
The big question Du Plessis and the selectors have to weigh up ahead of the toss is whether to risk Steyn, who has not played a Test in over a year. Given Vernon Philander’s dubious fitness record, it would be a big risk to play both him and Steyn in a four-man attack.
“For me, he is the best bowler in the world,” Du Plessis, who refused to confirm whether Steyn would play, he said.
“He hasn’t played for a while and he hasn’t got the overs under his legs that he would have wanted.
“But facing Dale in the nets, it feels like the skill hasn’t gone anywhere. He has got the same pace, and the same swing. Skill wise it’s like he has just jumped back on that bicycle and is riding again.”
Steyn’s contest with Sachin Tendulkar seven years ago was one of the highlights of Test cricket this century. Now, if he returns to the fray, he will be up against the man who has succeeded Tendulkar at No.4, and as Indian cricket’s biggest icon. Virat Kohli began the last series in South Africa (2013-14) with a dazzling hundred at The Wanderers, and followed it up with a second innings 96.
“He is a very good player, his stats don’t lie,” Du Plessis said.
“I am not going to tell you what the plans are. We are hoping we can put some pressure on him. If we can keep him quiet, we have a much better chance.”
India and Kohli eschewed a warm-up game in favor of more focused training sessions, and the captain was also not available to the media on the eve of the game. India have selection debates of their own to address. Ajinkya Rahane, the vice-captain, had a dreadful series against Sri Lanka, but has a tremendous record away from home. But if they opt to play only five batsmen, with Hardik Pandya selected as a seam-bowling all-rounder, then it could be the in-form Rohit Sharma that gets the nod at No.5.
Shikhar Dhawan’s recovery from an ankle injury means a straight choice between him and KL Rahul as Murali Vijay’s opening partner, and there will also be a toss-up between Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Umesh Yadav for the third seamer’s spot. With Ravindra Jadeja in hospital recovering from a viral infection, R Ashwin is certain to be the specialist spinner.
Sanjay Bangar, the assistant coach who mentors the batsmen, spoke of how the bowling group now possessed the nous to keep the pressure on.
“We have got Ishant Sharma who is having his third tour of South Africa and all the bowlers have been rotated really well keeping into account the workloads that they are going to encounter here,” he said.
“If you see the consistency that they have displayed in the home season where they bowled in pretty flat conditions, they have built a great sense of discipline in their bowling and I am pretty sure that that will help us in maintaining the pressure on opposition batsmen.”
Faf du Plessis: South Africa out for revenge against India
Faf du Plessis: South Africa out for revenge against India
Salama smashes course record with sensational 60 at Madinaty
- Spaniard cards 10-under-par round with 9 birdies and a chip-in eagle to lead by four in Egypt
CAIRO: Spain’s Juan Salama fired a sensational 10-under-par course record of 60 to take a four-shot lead after the opening round of the Egypt Golf Series.
Salama’s stunning round at Madinaty Golf Club bettered the previous record of 63 and included nine birdies and a chip-in eagle on the par-five ninth — his final hole of the day after the field started on the 10th.
The Spaniard, who finished runner-up to Jack Davidson in last week’s play-off at Address Marassi, dropped his only shot of the day on the eighth hole, meaning a par there would have given him the magical 59.
“It was definitely an early start today — I was up at 3:45 a.m. stretching, breakfast at 4:30, and we arrived at the course around 5:30, so I was warming up in the dark, which was pretty crazy,” said Salama.
“But it actually went really well. I love being first out because the greens are perfect with no footprints and the ball rolls beautifully. The conditions here at Madinaty Golf Club have been fantastic all week.
“I made nine birdies with just one dropped shot, and on the last hole I really fancied the chip-in for eagle. My personal best round is nine under, so I went for it and it paid off. I feel like my game has been in a really good place the last couple of weeks. I’ve been working hard, my family has been a huge support, and my wife keeps me very disciplined, so it’s nice to see that work paying off.”
Last week’s winner Jack Davidson is the closest pursuer after a six-under 64 that included seven birdies and just one dropped shot at the par-five 13th — his fourth hole of the day.
“It was a similar situation to last week, chasing Juan Salama again, but I’m really happy with six under,” said Davidson. “The wind made it tough at times, but I managed to hole a few nice putts and keep the momentum going after last week’s play-off win.
“The up-and-down on eight was a big moment. It’s one of the hardest holes on the course, so saving par there and going on to make birdie at the last was huge. With an early tee time tomorrow, hopefully we get slightly better conditions and fresher greens.”
Four players currently share third place at five under par: Argentina’s Gaston Bertinotti, Wales’ Owen Edwards, Germany’s Tim Tillmanns and Italy’s Ludovico Addabbo, who sits second in the MENA Golf Tour Rankings.
“It was a great round, to be honest. I played really solid,” said Bertinotti. “The course was playing pretty tough — really firm and fast, especially on the downhill shots — and the wind picked up after the fourth hole, which made things even more challenging.
“The wind makes the course a lot more challenging. There are holes where you can be hitting three clubs less than normal from the rough because the ball just doesn’t stop downwind. Both nines are tough in different ways. On the front you hit more drivers, and on the back there are a lot of demanding iron shots, especially with the par threes and the water in play.”
Rankings leader Chris Wood is absent this week as he competes in the Qatar Masters on the DP World Tour, and with Addabbo well placed heading into round two, there is an opportunity to close the gap at the top of the standings.
The Egyptian contingent found the windy conditions challenging but took plenty of positives from the experience of competing against the international field.
“Conditions are pretty tough with the wind,” said Ahmed Morgan, who carded an 81. “When I played this course on the Asian Tour without wind it was much easier, but with these conditions there are some really demanding holes. The greens are very fast, so it’s difficult to hold them, which makes knocking it close to the pin the key this week.”
Amateur Abdelrahman El-Defrawy echoed those sentiments after his opening 78.
“It was pretty tough out there with the wind, but the course itself is in great condition,” he said.
“The wind was probably the biggest challenge, especially with judging yardages between clubs. But that’s all part of the experience — playing under this kind of pressure is something I’ll take a lot from going forward.”
