NAGPUR: Three innings victories in India in over a decade is something South Africa can boast about. Incidentally, the last three times India have lost by an innings at home was against South Africa.
The West Indies have won by an innings on Indian soil on six occasions, but not after 1983-84 in Kanpur and Calcutta.
Australia registered three innings wins in India and they enjoyed such success for the last time in Madras (1959-60).
After their innings-and-six-run win at Jamtha, Graeme Smith will be eyeing his first series win in India. The result will add aura to his side, after victorious campaigns in Australia and England.
South Africa held the No.1 ranking from August to December and it will be doubly sweet for them to wrest it back after a victorious campaign in what they consider the toughest tour in the world.
Holding onto the 1-0 series lead or winning 2-0 will not only put them on top of the rankings but for now will end the debate as to which is the best side in the world.
It would have been easy for the South Africans to get swept by the whirlpool created by the chopping and changing just ahead of this series.
They had to unexpectedly fight back to level the home series against England and failure to reach the final ofthe World Twenty20 and the Champions Trophy played at home had not been appreciated by the fans and the powers-that-be of Cricket South Africa.
So long-time coach Mickey Arthur was removed and so was the selection committee. It could have got to Smith, after stories of a breakdown in relations between him and coach Arthur were published, ahead of what is a ‘big box to tick off,’ a series win in India.
“I think personally for me it was difficult because of the rubbish been written back home last week (rift between him and Arthur) … It helped there was a lot of honesty around the group and the credit must go to their maturity also,” Smith said. Maturity and mental strength are words Smith uses often and it is not without reason.
“I think mindset is crucial coming to India. If you come here thinking I would bowl one spell as best as I can and then think the spinners should be doing the job… (then youwill not succeed). I think the fast bowlers, in particular, have come here with a mindset that they can contribute on this tour,” Smith said.
Though South Africans are traditionally known to choke in the heat of the battle, they have displayed a tough-as-nails shell that India haven’t cracked. “We have been really clinical. It is important to play our style of cricket. We can’t change our gameplan. We can’t come here and play another style of cricket. We have to adapt but play our style of cricket. I think we did that every well throughout the game,” a very satisfied Smith said.