JOIN US South Africa’s Simon Harmer, who claimed 4/78 to hasten India’s collapse, felt the pitch for the third Test here will not last full five days. The ball began to turn square in the first hour of the match as 12 wickets fell on the opening day here on Wednesday.
“I think so,” he said when asked if he thought the surface wouldn’t last five days. “I don't think the wickets are prepared to last five full days. The reason behind the preparation of the wickets is to get a result. When the Indian team comes to South Africa, we are going to prepare wickets that suit our bowlers. So, them playing one seamer, it's clear to see what sort of wicket they are preparing. Mohali was much of the same and at the end of the day, there are three innings left. It is going to be the same for our batters and for both teams throughout the Test match. It is challenging conditions but that's what playing in the sub-continent is all about. (But) I'm a spinner, so yeah (I am happy),” he remarked.
Harmer, who was benched for the second Test in Bengaluru, went wicketless in the first few overs despite extracting big turn. The pace of his deliveries, Harmer pointed out, had to be adjusted. “I found it difficult to adjust to the right pace. I think I was a bit slow at the beginning of my spell. I wouldn't say I was struggling to adjust to lines or lengths. I think pace on this wicket was vital. At the beginning of my spell, I was just sort of trying to find my feet.
“Obviously you can't bowl one pace the whole time. But I felt that the quicker pace there was a bit more bite off the wicket. You saw a few balls spit. As a spinner that is what you are looking for. When you bowl too slowly, a batsman can adjust and go back easily. Ideally you want a batsman to commit to a shot and I felt the best way to do that was to bowl at a quicker pace,” he explained.