RIGHT TIME FOR A SAFARI

Kohli’s Team Has The Arsenal To Conquer The Final Frontier And Win Country’s Maiden Test Series In SA

- Nitin Naik

For a nation with long memories of seeing its batsmen bulldozed by quality pace when playing abroad, the image of Sachin Tendulkar’s defences being pierced by an Allan Donald scorcher in the Boxing Day Test at Kingsmead, Durban in 1996, after the batsman had hit him for two crunching fours through cover and point, still hurts.

India had been blown away inside three days for 100 and 66 in the two innings they had played. Venkatesh Prasad’s brilliant 10-wicket match haul was a footnote.

“Forget the Rhino, save India”, screamed a banner in the hands of a passionate Protea in the stands.

As Indian fans though, we are good at finding antidotes to painful defeats. In that, the two deliveries stand out as a counter to Donald’s dominance.

Back to Kingsmead. Boxing Day Test then. The second of the series in 2010-2011. South Africa, chasing 303 for victory, were going steady at 123 for 3, with a partnership building between Ashwell Prince and Jacques Kallis. Enter S Sreesanth. Maverick and magician. He produced a delivery that snorted from a length and saw Kallis metamorphose into a high-jumper to fend it off. The ball ballooned off his gloves to Virender Sehwag at point. The hosts collapsed and India levelled the series.