Combined India-South Africa Test XI
As Morne Morkel shouldered arms to a straighter one by Ravichandran Ashwin, the ball kissed the off-stump, and India had beaten South Africa 3-0 in the series. The series had started with a rank turner at Mohali, where South Africa could not handle the spin-twins, Jadeja and Ashwin.The demons in their minds seemed to outweight the demons in the pitch, as most batmsen fell to pre-meditated shots. The match was over in 3 days, which led to criticism of the pitch, So, a neutral pitch was prepared in Bangalore, but South Africa still failed to capitalize on it, folding for just 214. But persistent rain washed out all chances of a result.The third pitch was even more vicious than the first, as balls spat up from the pitch on Day 1. While India pushed and heaved to 215, South Africa showed a white flag almost immediately and collapsed for 79. Set a target of 310, South Africa put up a bit more resistance – showing that pitch was not as tough as it was made out to be, but were eventually overrun by the Indian spinners.The fourth test at Delhi showed the best pitch of the series – one which was good for batting, but still had something for the seam bowlers.Once again, South Africa were completely outmatched as India first scored 334 and then bowled them out for 121. Kohli did not enforce the follow on, but opted to bat and set an unassailable target. Set to chase 481, South Africa completely changed gears, resorting to block their way out trouble. They did not score more than 1 run an over, and ended Day 4 on 72 runs from 72 overs. But they still had 90 more overs to bat, which proved to be impossible. They were bowled out for 143 in the final session, and India completed the rout.The Indian team were undoubtedly the better team in the series, but South Africa also saw one or two good performances. Let’s take a look at the combined India-South Africa XI for the Test series:
#1 Murali Vijay
Once again, India’s most consistent batsman over the last two years stepped up to the plate when it mattered the most. Murali Vijay, nicknamed ‘Monk’, batted with his trademark patience and determination to keep the South African bowling attack at bay for most of the series. Opening the innings, Vijay made it his job to see off the new ball bowlers and wait till the pitch became relatively easier to bat on.
Knowing that his partner Shikhar Dhawan wasn’t in the best of form, Vijay harboured the strike and helped take the shine off the ball. Once the early morning swing abated, he played his range of strokes. His scores of 75 and 47 in the first Test were crucial towards taking India to a good score on a wearing pitch. Vijay did not look as if he was bothered by the turn on offer, often stepping out and lofting the bowlers over cover. He rose in confidence with every over, and India managed to beat South Africa,
Before the rain, Vijay had managed to get a good score in the second Test when he was on 28 off 73 balls. In the third test again, he put on a 50-run opening stand with Dhawan on a rank turner, scoring 40 runs in the process. It would go down as the highest score in the match. Vijay was unlucky to be dismissed caught behind after the ball hit the arm guard in the fourth Test, but his knocks in the first half of the series set it up for India.