Just have decent-ish hopes this might be a cracking series. I'm not particularly hopeful for SA's chance - I fancy India, provided they get the conditions they should, turning, pacy surfaces. And looking at those grounds, I think we can be confident for the first 2 games. Only games I've seen at Green Park have been very slow and offering nothing to bowlers of any kind.
But I don't think SA can be counted-out.
Let's presume the XIs go something like this...
Jaffer
Sehwag
Dravid
Tendulkar
Ganguly
Laxman
Dhoni
Kumble
Harbhajan Singh
Zaheer Khan
Rudra Pratap Singh
Smith
McKenzie
Amla
Kallis
Prince
de Villiers
Boucher
Harris
Nel
Steyn
Ntini
Harris is no Kumble, or even Harbhajan Singh. But he is someone who, on a turning surface, should be able to keep his side in the game. I'm presuming it's going to be SG balls, which, while better than Kookaburras, are still hardly swing-friendly. If, on the off-chance, they do swing for a decent time, both seam-attacks should be in the game, though I personally would fancy Steyn more than Zaheer and RP.
Ntini still, to my mind, offers next to nothing on pitches that don't offer movement off the seam and bounce. Nel does, but hasn't delivered on what I believe to be his true promise for several seasons now. And he's far from a guranteed starter.
Certainly, compared to South Africa's attack from 1999\2000 it's pittance. In Donald, they had the perfect bowler for... well, for anything really, and even though his figures that series were no more than decent, he played a crucial part. Pollock and Kallis also made vital contributions, and Boje played a big part. Harris can certainly do that, but Steyn - I've said it a few times - is no Donald. For starters, he currently lacks AAD's reverse-swing skills, though I'm sure he can learn that down the years. More crucially, he lacks the height and isn't, quite, as quick. And neither Ntini nor Nel are likely to offer the suffocating accuracy Pollock did. Perhaps a little of a shame he's not making this trip, but I understand his wish to retire at home. Steyn's role could be more like that offered by Mornantau Hayward on that trip, even though I'm sure Steyn has career aspirations far beyond Hayward's overall achievements.
And of course, India's batting is in far, far better shape than it was in 1999\2000, when it was in as big a disarray as I can remember seeing. Jaffer and Kaif on debut - and both at that point totally out of their depth - Laxman then Dravid makeshift openers; Ganguly totally out of nick; Mongia totally out of nick.
And as for South Africa... well, there's no comparison. For the last 2 years, pretty much, SA's line-up has had 1 player who's totally convinced me, Kallis of course. Prince is a decent Test player, Smith remains someone I have confidence in, Boucher is a good lower-order player. But Amla still doesn't convince me at all; McKenzie is not an opener; de Villiers is not a lower-order player (though swapping them around would be great... of course...). Compare it to 1999\2000, near enough every position was filled. There was Kirsten and Gibbs established at the top of the order; Kallis, Cullinan and Cronje in the middle; and Boucher, Klusener, Pollock and Boje, so batting down to nine. It was one hell of a unit, and even so Kumble and Srinath always threatened.
India's bowling-attack is better now, South Africa's batting-line-up worse, South Africa's bowling-attack not as good, India's batting-line-up better. Really, India should win this.
Us South African fans can but hope.
Tendulkar not too hot against SA?
