India vs. South Africa, 3rd Test, Day 1: Morkel Shines on Dust-Bowl Pitch

Another Test, another struggle in India for South Africa. Despite South Africa's bowlers doing a great job to dismiss India for 215, after the hosts won the toss and elected to bat first, the visitors find themselves on the back foot once more.

Despite being hampered by injuries to some of their leading bowlers, South Africa did a good job to keep India’s batsmen quiet.

Just one of India's players—Murali Vijay—managed to add more than 34 to the total. However, South Africa find themselves 11-2 after Day 1, still 204 runs behind.

There is plenty of time left in this Test, and no doubt plenty of excitement, so here are the talking points from the first day.

The lack of big scores

Neither team has had a batsman score a century in this series yet. While the pitches have favoured the bowlers, a lack of application has cost both teams. A lack of substantial partnerships means that the scores have been low and it’s often modest scores that have made the difference. That’s the same in this Test. While much will be made of the pitch, the batsmen have to take plenty of blame, too.

Morne Morkel comes into his own in Dale Steyn’s absence

South Africa have been dealt a few pretty nasty blows in terms of injury. Vernon Philander has been ruled out of the series and Dale Steyn is not fit to play either. It means that Morne Morkel is the only senior bowler in the side and on Day 1, he led from the front.

Morkel did what Steyn has done really well in the subcontinent before and took the pitch out of the equation. Despite Nagpur serving up a dust bowl, quite obviously to aid India’s spinner’s, Morkel used his height and pace to his advantage, to help end the innings with three wickets.

South Africa’s bold—or is it curious—embracing of spin

South Africa opted for two front-line spinners to support their two quicks in this Test. It is something so alien to a side which has never really been known for its spinning stocks and, in a way, it’s kind of quizzical. While Simon Harmer is more than apt with getting through overs, Imran Tahir remains unconvincing.

As has been the case throughout this series, Tahir constantly tries too many things in one over. That Dean Elgar and JP Duminy were often bowled ahead of him on Day 1 underscores just how innocuous Tahir is. With two part-time spinners in the side, it is a curious decision to play two spinners if one is not up to scratch. Tahir has usually been useful at spinning out the tail, but the seventh, eight, ninth and 10th wicket partnerships added 90 between them.

It might simply be another case of South Africa trying to compensate for the conditions instead of simply just doing what they are good at.

Stiaan van Zyl continues to struggle at the top of the order

Stiaan van Zyl is an immensely talented young player, but he has looked completely out of sorts opening the batting. It is not his natural batting position, but he has been earmarked to fill this spot since Alviro Petersen retired. Doing so for the first time in conditions that are so incredibly tough has been a real baptism of fire and South Africa have to be careful with how they manage him from here.