Race to the Top: South Africa and India: Part II—For Those About to Bat

We salute you!

Not the exact words of the “Acca Dacca” but not too far from the truth, either, considering we are talking of the likes of Messrs Tendulkar, Smith, Sehwag, Kallis, Laxman, et al.

Welcome to the second edition of this series, as we proceed to compare and contrast the options at India and South Africa's behest in the defence department of cricket, the batting.

There is no doubt about the ability of the two teams in this regard. Both possess some fine craftsmen, and have spectacular balance between the aggressive type, and the more sedate ones.

Let’s begin by highlighting the main weapons of either side.

South Africa

Graeme Smith- Opener

Jacques Kallis- Middle Order

Hashim Amla- Number 3

India

Virender Sehwag- Opener

Sachin Tendulkar- Middle Order

Gautam Gambhir- Opener

VVS Laxman- Middle Order

Rahul Dravid- Number 3

Though the list seems longer for the Indians, the South Africans have managed to constantly produce big scores. This is of course in due thanks to their newer, but slightly lesser players, but we shall look into that later.

For now, our focus is solely on the big guns.

I always reckoned Graeme Smith to be an average batsman, but with a big heart and great temperament, a lot like Sourav Ganguly. But this season Smith has made me change my mind about him with an amazingly consistent run over 12 long months in 2008.

His biggest asset is the fact that he always ends up playing the most vital innings for his team. Right from the twin doubletons he made on the tour of England during the summer of 2003, his maiden tour as captain, Smith has made a habit of leading by example.

His direct competition from the Indian squad would have to be Virender Sehwag, though Gautam Gambhir may soon overtake the Nawab in this regard.

Viru’s position as the most dangerous batsman in the world is beyond doubt. Fifteen Test centuries, eight of which are over the 150 mark, and five over 200, lay testament to the fact that he may be the heir to Viv Richards’ legacy, hitherto occupied by Tendulkar during his first decade, and then, briefly, by Adam Gilchrist.

When he joined Sir Donald Bradman and Brian Lara as the only men to make two Test tripletons, Sehwag also cemented his place in world cricket history as an all-time great. Such has been this man’s impact. Since his debut, ironically against South Africa, Sehwag has singlehandedly changed the world’s perception of openers in Test matches. Exceeding Sanath Jayasuriya in audacity, and Adam Gilchrist in consistency, he probably also matches Sir Viv in his laid back but “I own this place” attitude.

They say bowlers used to tremble when Richards walked into bat in his heyday. In Sehwag’s case, the trembling gives way to absolute tension and lack of control for the opposing captain, and it begins even before a single ball can be bowled!

While Sehwag is the maverick, proverbial “hell-for-leather” batsman, Gauti is fast becoming the embodiment of consistency, and there is talk in India that he is the next Wall. Such has been the ferocity with which this man has made his runs.

Drafted into the side after the selectors grew tired of Wasim Jaffer’s prodding, Gambhir made a steady start in the three Tests in Sri Lanka, but truly came into his own against Australia at home. With three Test hundreds in just nine games in the season, Gambhir has established himself solidly as India’s number two…

… The lack of which has affected South Africa a bit these past few months. While Neil McKenzie can be a reliable accumulator of runs, his lack of impressive technique was found out in Australia, and he does stick out like a sore thumb in an otherwise impressive batting lineup. His inconsistency means that Hashim Amla is getting exposed to the new ball far more often than he should be; something that Amla has handled exceptionally well.

Amla is another batsman whom I never thought highly of. With his high back lift and awkward grip, his early struggles at the international level were understandable. His most famous moment in those early years would have to be the Dean Jones “Terrorist” controversy! But he too has made me think again with some class performances in India and England. He has made the No. 3 spot his own in the SA lineup, a lot like his Indian counterpart did all those summers ago in England.

In all fairness, Rahul Dravid isn’t the same 29-year-old he was during that summer in England in ’02. But even after factoring in all the ill effects of advancing age, the 36-year-old has let down his legions of fans for two years now.

Ironically, his poor patch began in South Africa during India’s visit in the '06-'07 season.

In 27 Tests since that fateful tour, the Wall has crumbled, quite literally, his average being a measly 31 in this period. Rumours are doing the rounds that the coming tour of New Zealand may be his last chance to step up his game. It’s always a shame to lose a player of class, especially one averaging over 50, a world record holder for most runs at his position, but continued failure may leave the selectors with no choice.

Jacques Kallis’ career has been remarkably similar to that of Dravid. And remarkably, he too has faced a ridiculous slump in form, most notably against England, where the big, burly all-rounder averaged less than 15, scoring just a solitary half-century in seven innings.

His slump batting at No. 4 seems to counter the slump in form of Dravid at No.3 for India, just as Sachin Tendulkar’s scintillating run in ’08 counters that of Hashim Amla!

Tendulkar enjoyed his most successful calendar year in Test cricket since 2002. Scoring 1,063 runs, four centuries, three of them against his favourite opposition—Australia, and one in the magical Test run chase at Chennai, Tendulkar re-established his credentials as the best batsman in the world last year.

The only aberration in the year was his poor run of scores in Sri Lanka, but none can deny that every time he came out to bat during the three Tests, he looked in prime touch. It was just a wonder how he just kept getting out after looking so comfortable at the crease. In a way his performance was a reflection of how the whole team batted: started well, but could never kick on!

VVS Laxman was another Indian heavyweight who came good in ’08. Never one of the consistent kinds, Laxman did produced some exquisite gems, like his third consecutive century at Sydney, and a memorable doubleton against Australia. His form against England was enough to suggest him taking over Dravid as India’s No. 3.

No such promotions in store for A.B. De Villiers, though he did play a vital part in SA’s terrific run last year. Starting with his match-winning 217 and finishing, quite aptly, with his thrilling 106 in the Perth run chase! His Tendulkar-like performance at Perth earned him particularly high praise from all sections of the cricketing globe, as it signalled the arrival of South Africa’s latest No. 5 batsman.

His partner at the other end for much of that historic run chase was debutant Jean Paul Duminy—or so they would have us believe, because the so-called debutant showed no nerve at all, as he and AB ran the Australians out of the match. He followed it up with a stellar inning at Melbourne. There is no denying this young man’s talent, a lot like India’s Yuvraj Singh.

Like Duminy, Singh too was one half of a match-winning pair in a thrilling fourth inning run chase. But it’s yet to be seen whether his 85 is good enough to give him the confidence to keep proving himself again and again. Else, another spell out of the Test side will not be totally out of question. His is a shaky spot on India’s batting resume, which is, otherwise, glittering with stars!

One spot which definitely is beyond doubt is that of the skipper! Dhoni at No. 7 has been quite effective. He has the ability to tear any attack apart, but it is yet to be seen if he can convert his prolific one day record into Gilchrist-like Test stats.

Adam Gilchrist’s contemporary and longtime ‘keeping rival Mark Boucher is quite a reliable lower order batsman, though not in the same class as Gilchrist. An average of 30 is more than useful if you have all-rounders like Morne Morkel, Paul Harris, and (if you go by his Melbourne performance) Dale Steyn to follow!

India’s heavy-duty top and middle order warrants no further ammunition in the tail, but Harbhajan Singh and Zaheer Khan have come to the rescue of the Indian team on quite a few occasions, most memorably against Australia at Bangalore, where their stand literally salvaged the rest of the series for India!