India's chance to beard the lion

Moment of reckoning for Dhoni and Kirsten as the duo looks to break duck

It is inevitable that, in a couple of days, a lot of the focus will shift to another part of the Southern hemisphere, when the world’s number one and number two sides go head to head in what promises to be a fascinating battle between equals.

Such has been the aggressive build-up to this series that not even Daniel Vettori, essentially a composed, controlled, self-contained individual could refrain from joining in. The Kiwi skipper referred to South Africa as the ‘Final Frontier’ for Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s India, a phrase not without basis even if the rival camps have tended to play it down.
Australia apart, South Africa remains the only country where India haven’t won a Test series. Four visits dating back to 1992 have produced only heartbreak, though India can take heart from the fact that in 2006, they took one giant step towards ending their Protean drought when they pulled off a brilliant triumph at the Wanderers in Johannesburg, only for the home team to win the next two matches and seal a 2-1 series verdict.

From a South African perspective, there is very little reason why that scoreline should not be repeated over the next three and a half weeks, beginning with the first of three Tests at SuperSport Park here from Thursday. Graeme Smith’s men acknowledge that India are the top-ranked Test team but they believe ratings have little role to play in deciding actual outcomes, and that their familiarity with conditions as much as the Indians’ perceived discomfiture against the bouncing, moving ball should work to their advantage.
India, of course, have other ideas. Their preparation has been unique – if not strangely bizarre – in that they have arrived here in batches, played no competitive cricket since, and yet feel they are as well equipped to break their Protean duck as they have ever been.

Not unlike their opponents, India too don’t place too much emphasis on the rankings. Dhoni and his boys are proud occupants of the throne, but it’s difficult to see them dwelling too much on what being number one means. They will take little consolation in the knowledge that not even a 0-3 rout here will cost them their top-dog status, a position they have held on to for more than 12 months on the trot now.

This Indian squad, a wonderful fusion of irreplaceable experience and influential exuberance, generates the belief and the confidence that of all outfits that have travelled to South Africa in recent times, it is in the best position to beard the lion in its own den. The batting is in great hands, the glorious middle-order troika of Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman bolstered by the towering presence of Virender Sehwag who looms as that most dangerous X-factor.

South Africa have made enough noise in the last few days about letting Sehwag realise that he won’t be playing on ‘tame’ Indian pitches, but their respect for and wariness of the Indian pace bowling contingent has prevented them from producing a surface, at least as SuperSport Park, designed entirely to encourage Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel.
Steyn, the world’s number one bowler, and able understudy Morkel will pose as much of a threat to the Indians as will Zaheer Khan, S Sreesanth and Ishant Sharma to Graeme Smith and company. The memory of Sreesanth’s exploits in Johannesburg four years ago when he ripped through the batting line-up will reopen old wounds in the Protean ranks; it becomes imperative, therefore, that India’s three-pronged pace attack keeps its equanimity and doesn’t get carried away.

For Dhoni and Gary Kirsten, this is in some ways the moment of reckoning. Not since the two were united in leadership roles towards the end of 2008 have India travelled overseas for such a high-profile series. Kirsten first assignment as India’s coach was against the country of his birth, Sehwag welcoming him to the Indian fold with a brilliant triple century. It’s almost certain that this series will be the former Protean opening batsman’s last Test outing as India coach, given that his contract is set to end with the World Cup. A series win in South Africa will be the perfect going-away gift from his team.