Our batsmen did not show application, admits Amla

 Hashim Amla, who was left astounded after a straight ball from Ravindra Jadeja crashed into his stumps, admitted that lack of application by the South African batsmen led to their downfall more than the nature of the pitch in the opening Test.

“Yeah, I would agree that we could have applied ourselves a bit better,” he said at the end of the match, particularly after a good bowling show in the second innings to restrict India to 201 all out.

“There were certain decisions that we made while batting that were not the right decisions. In that case, I would say yes. Throughout this match, even though it was such a short Test match, I think we managed to hold our own right until the last innings here.

“They could easily have got away from us; with about 250-plus or 300-plus to get in the last innings; it would have been exceptionally difficult. The way we bowled and the way we kind of applied ourselves in the field and in the first innings with the bat was very good. Just very disappointing that we didn’t manage to apply ourselves better and get closer to 200,” he explained.

Amla also pointed out that the ball didn’t turn as much as it was being made out to be. “I think a lot of dismissals, actually in both teams, were due to lack of turn more than due to excess turn. Sometimes those are the more difficult pitches to play on. In saying that, the chat (in the team meeting) was that the ball wasn’t turning as much but there a few errors in decision-making that kind of cost us a bit.

We actually kept it as simple as possible, that it is not turning as much. If you get a good ball that turns, so be it. The ball that Stiaan (van Zyl) got for example was a pretty good ball and you just got to put your gloves under your arms and just say ‘well bowled’. But for a majority of the Test match, it was about trying to play the ball as straight as possible,” he offered.