India vs. South Africa, 4th Test, Day 1: Piedt Shines, Amla Loses Toss

Things are evenly poised in the fourth Test between hosts India and South Africa in Delhi, where the former won the toss and elected to bat first. India finished the day on 231 for seven, with Ajinkya Rahane unbeaten on 89.

The Delhi pitch has looked far more stable than the deck in Nagpur, and if it holds, it’s got all the makings of being a really interesting Test. With Day 1 done and dusted, here are some talking points.

Hashim Amla and the toss

Hashim Amla might start thinking that he is cursed when it comes to the toss. He has not won a single on South Africa’s tour to India, and since taking over from Graeme Smith, he has won just two in total.

The South African expression to describe his struggle would be “shame,” a word that can be used for everything from something cute to expressing sympathy. In Amla’s case, it’s definitely a case of expressing sympathy. Amla can’t do anything about his bad luck with flipping coins, of course, but you do feel for him.

Who knows how different this series might have gone had South Africa won the toss in Mohali and Nagpur.

The return of Dane Piedt

Dane Piedt returned to international cricket for the first time since making a fine debut in Zimbabwe last year. In that match, Piedt recorded best figures for a South African spinner on debut, but a shoulder injury soon followed and ruled him out of action for some time.

He returned to first-class cricket but struggled to find form, and fellow spinner Simon Harmer soon edged ahead of him in the pecking order.

Piedt is a real grafter, however, and when given an opportunity, he tends to take it with both hands. He hustled through 34 overs on Day 1, picking up four wickets and getting more revolutions on the ball than any of South Africa’s spinners had managed so far.

As the pitch continues to wear down, Piedt should become even more effective, and South African selectors will have some head-scratching to do ahead of picking the squad for England’s visit to the country.

Temba Bavuma as an opener

Stiaan van Zyl has looked out of his depth opening the batting on this tour, so the fact that he was dropped for this Test is hardly a surprise. What is a surprise is who they have elected to replace him.

Young Temba Bavuma is down on the team list to open, and while he is talented and has shown that he can play spin well in Bangladesh, expecting him to open against India is a bit harsh.

South Africa had other options. Dropping Dane Vilas and asking AB de Villiers to keep wicket and still bringing Bavuma in to strengthen the batting was one; asking Amla to open, which might still happen, and using Bavuma lower down the order was another.

Ajinkya Rahane standing firm

Ajinkya Rahane hasn't had the best time in the Tests so far. He's failed to pass 15 on all four occasions that he has batted.

He's more than made up for that with his effort on Day 1 in Delhi, though. With the top order struggling, Rahane dug in and spent over two-and-a-half hours at the crease for his unbeaten 89.

There hasn’t been a hundred in this series yet, and Rahane is looking good for becoming the first batsman to score it.

The strange case of Imran Tahir

Another Test, another strange way of managing Imran Tahir. The leg-spinner has been used in short bursts throughout this tour, and that has happened once again in Delhi.

The debate around why this is the case has raged on, with some saying his captain should trust him more and let go of South Africa’s defensive mindset, which is fearful of conceding runs.

Others say the way Tahir is being used is his own fault because he tries too many things in one over without settling on a stock ball.