5 reasons why South Africa, for the first time in a decade, struggled in a Test series in India

Over the years, South Africa has been one of the most intimidating visitors to India. Not many teams have breached the fortress, the Final Frontier over two decades for many seemingly invincible teams. South Africa’s glorious run of 9 years has come to an end finally, as they lost a series away from home, an incredible feature already.Like Australia’s winning streak of 16, this great streak too had to end in India, showing how tough it usually is for visiting teams to unfurl their flags. It comes as no surprise that in the last 10 years, only one team, England, has managed to win a series in India – in 2012.England drew a series once, South Africa did it twice but beyond that, it has been India all the way, winning 12 out of the 16 Test series played in the last 10 years.South Africa has been by far, the best visiting team based on facts.1996: India beat South Africa 2-12000: South Africa beat India 2-02004: India beat South Africa 1-02008: India drew with South Africa 1-12010: India drew with South Africa 1-1With one Test to go, this is by far South Africa’s worst performance.Here are 5 reasons why South Africa struggled in the series against India, handing over the Freedom Trophy.

#1 Collective Batting failure

South Africa managed to post their three lowest cumulative Test totals in India, in the current series. Their totals of 293 and 264 in Mohali and Nagpur are the lowest totals across both innings for them in India. The average in these two Tests was 14.65 and 13.20, easily their lowest. Until then, their previous lowest was 17.85 and 17.45 way back in 1996, when they lost 1-2 to India.

Even in 2004, when they lost a series in India, their average was an impressive 26.35. This clearly shows how their batting has failed collectively in this series. Their lowest total in India, 79 also came in this series. It is also the lowest total for which India has dismissed any opposition.

South Africa crossed 200 only once in five innings so far in this series, the lone innings in Bangalore which was washed out by rain. Only one South African managed to get past 50. AB de Villiers did it twice, with scores of 85 and 63 in Bangalore and Mohali respectively.