It’s a tricky scenario. You can’t really bet your hard-earned money on one team when the two best Test sides lock horns. But if you simply cannot hold yourself back, the loopholes need to be analysed.

South Africa have more than proved themselves on the international arena with scintillating performances on a consistent basis while Team India is touted as the next big thing in the cricketing fraternity. So if nothing, the two Test series will at least decide the ruler of the ICC rankings, at least for now.

The South African team was initially scheduled to play five ODIs but an interference of the cricketing boards, in a bid to save the fading excitement and grace of Test cricket, saw the itinerary being altered to a couple of Tests followed by three 50-over deciders.

Whether or not the encounter between the two sides will live up to the label of the ‘Majestic Combat’ is to be seen. Now, that is because, both the teams are struggling on various fronts.

If there has ever been a team worthy of replacing the Aussies at the top of the pack, it has been South Africa, hands down. Similar to Roger Federer’s supremacy being challenged by Rafael Nadal time and again, it has been the Proteas that has given the Champion Aussie outfit a run for their money every time the two sides have met on a cricket field, at least in the recent past.

The famous Johannesburg ODI where Australia scored 434 runs only to be chased to death by the so called ‘Chokers’, is an example that supports my above statement very aptly.

Getting back to the loopholes of both the teams, South Africa, the second ranked Test team, have not been in the ‘Test-groove’ in the recent past. They played two Test series against Australia (at home and away), sharing a trophy each. The only other Test series they have played is the one against England that concluded recently. It was drawn 1-1.

Their pace attack comprises of only two big names - Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel. The spin department is not worth the time and space in the blog. With India being among the best players of spin bowling, Paul Harris and Johan Botha will have to come up with something Read more…

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Bangladesh landed in the West Indies with the tag of underdogs. But the moment the home side fielded a makeshift team following a boycott by the leading players ahead of the first Test — the onus shifted to Bangladesh. It virtually left the Tigers with one choice: win the Test or be ready to suffer the blushes.

For the home team, who drafted seven debutants in a hastily assembled squad, there was nothing to lose but a lot was at stake for Mashrafe Bin Mortaza’s men. Anything other than a win would only provide enough fuel to the critics who never make the mistake to raise their fingers towards the Tigers at the drop of a hat.

In the end what was refreshing for the cricket-loving people in the country was that a set of young cricketers under a new leader didn’t succumb to untoward pressure in Kingstown, St. Vincent to bring more trouble for them after their poor showing in the five-day game.

So, when they scripted the 95-run victory it was not only their first-ever away Test triumph or only the second success in 60 Tests rather they achieved something more than that. Read more…

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