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THE HINDU DELHI WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2019 SPORT 17 EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE India begins overwhelming favourite Rohit up for the challenge: Kohli S. Dinakar and we are sure, he will, obviously Ash is going to be Saha replaces Pant in the playing XI; South Africa expected to put up a brave fi ght Visakhapatnam sooner than later, fi nd his a threat, and in home condi Virat Kohli’s visage sported a game at the top. Once he is tions, with his batting cre SA IN INDIA glow and a smile that comes in his zone, he can do great dentials, and the way he with success. The relentless things for the team.” bowls as well, he’s always go runmaker with class and The skipper said wicket ing to be starting with Jadeja, S. Dinakar timing is also India’s most keeper Wriddhiman Saha so that was a nobrainer for Visakhapatnam successful Test captain. would be a part of the ele us.” Familiarity can lead to com After leading India to a ven. “Saha is fi t and fi ne to South African captain Faf placency. And adversity can crushing Test series triumph go. His keeping credentials du Plessis was pleased about lift sides in unfamiliar over the West Indians in the are there for everyone to his team playing its fi rst settings. Carribbean, Kohli is eyeing a see.” According to me, he’s World Test Championship Cricket is a funny game victory over the South Afri the best keeper in the world, series. and surprises are not un cans at home. And with ev so in these conditions, with “It’s very exciting for all of common. Yet, India, com ery win adding to India’s tal what he’s done in the past, us, it’s something fresh, so petitive abroad and ruthless ly in the World Test he starts for us.” mething new. We’ve been at home, should start the Championship, the Indian Kohli said both R. Ashwin playing a lot of Test cricket threeTest series against skipper is excited. and Ravindra Jadeja would but this is the fi rst of its kind South Africa as the over play the Test here. “Jaddu, and we haven’t had Test whelming favourite. In no rush we felt, was in a better zone, cricket since February or And the dusty cream co The team management has as far as him performing March, or the beginning of loured track at the ACA been taking decisions ahead overseas and what he’s done the year. It has been a gap of VDCA Stadium should suit of the Test. Kohli confi rmed, in the past season for the Test cricket for us. And we the topranked Test side in “Rohit [Sharma] is going to team, so yeah, from that are coming to India.” the world as the fi rst Test start for us. We’re in no point of view he started in If the pitch off ered turn gets underway here on rush. He’ll be given space to West Indies. then leftarmer Keshav Mah Wednesday. fi nd his own game and come “But look, wherever the araj, “as good as any in the For a South African side, into his own. conditions provide us to go world”, would trouble the rebuilding, the Freedom se Swing ‘em: Vernon Philander will look to make the ball talk in the Test series against India. * K.R. DEEPAK “He’s up for the challenge ahead with two spinners, Indians, he said. ries presents a wonderful opportunity to display to Skipper Faf du Plessis is as getherness and fi ght. Proteas feisty as they come while needs heroes to emerge. wicketkeeperbatsman Quin Tribute to the Mahatma! ton de Kock drips with ability. Rain forecast S. Dinakar Gandhi spent as many as growing up, South African Temba Bavuma is a develop Tuesday was bright here, but Visakhapatnam 21 years of his life in South fi elding legend Jonty ing middleorder batsman. spells of rain have been fore It’s fi tting that the India Africa and it was racial Rhodes said, “Both cast during the Test. Damp South Africa Freedom discrimination there, Mandela and Gandhi were Allrounder Philander conditions and a cloud cover series is beginning here on during the dark days of the great messengers of peace South Africa could play Ver could provide a lifeline to the October 2, the 150th birth apartheid era, that who taught us important non Philander, who com South Africans with their anniversary of Mahatma convinced him to fi ght values of equality, kindness bines seam movement with world class pacemen, led by Gandhi. against oppressive, colonial and humanity which have control, as an allrounder at Kagiso Rabada. There is a common regimes and was the a place in cricket too.” No. 7 and pick a second spin If the conditions remain bond that runs through catalyst for his freedom The Indian and the ner to support the world class hot and dry, and cracks de Gandhi, India and South struggle in India. South African teams will be leftarmer Keshav Maharaj. velop on the surface, apart Africa. Indeed, South Talking about the paying their tribute to The explosive Rabada could from spin, reverse swing Africa is an important stop infl uence of Nelson Gandhi when they start the be partnered by the mercu could dent lineups. in the inspirational man’s Mandela and Mahatma series on such a rial Lungi Ngidi or the even The host has made some tale. Gandhi in his life while momentous day. quicker Anrich Nortje. important choices. Wriddhi Pace has to combine with man Saha, who last fi gured accuracy. As du Plessis put it, in a Test at Cape Town in Jadeja, who is just two short keen on giving Rohit a run as ed stay but is India missing speed alone would be a waste 2018 before being derailed of 200 Test scalps, are to an opener. the big picture? In the pace in India. by injuries, is back in the gether again in the eleven. Making runs, particularly attack, the lanky Ishant Shar The teams: India (fi nal XI): Virat eleven. And Saha’s presence will lift at the top of the order, is a lot ma gets the nod over Umesh Kohli (Capt.), Rohit Sharma, Despite questions being their confi dence levels. about belief and Rohit, a nat Yadav. The seamer is at the Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar raised about Rishabh Pant’s Interestingly, legendary ural, will receive the time peak of his career, with con Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Hanuma choice of strokes, Saha’s skil wicketkeeperbatsman and space to fi nd his way. trol, bounce and movement. Vihari, Wriddihiman Saha (wk), ful and superior glovework Adam Gilchrist had said He has a barrage of shots The presence of the com R. Jadeja, R. Ashwin, Ishant would have swung the argu some months ago that when but does Rohit possess the posed Hanuma Vihari with Sharma and Mohammed Shami. ment in his favour. Saha returned from injury, technical nous and the tight his cultured batting at No. 6 South Africa (from): Faf du On subcontinental pitches the question of who should ness of game to make runs lends balance to the Indian Plessis (Capt.), Aiden Markram, Dean Elgar, Theunis de Bruyn, keep should be left to the In lineup. with turn and uneven away from the subcontinent Temba Bavuma, Quinton de bounce that deteriorate dian bowlers. where stiff er tests await In South Africa is a comba Kock (wk), Vernon Philander, further, standing up to spin dia? K.L. Rahul is still young tive side. At the top of the or Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, ners is the hardest job for a All eyes on Rohit and India has the talented der, Aiden Markram is a Lungi Ngidi, Dale Piedt, Anrich ’keeper and Saha appears Much focus will be on Rohit Prithvi Shaw, once his ban compelling shotmaker Nortje and Senuram Muthusa- the right man for the job. Sharma too. It is clear that ends, waiting in the wings. while southpaw Dean Elgar my. R. Ashwin and Ravindra the team management is Rohit will receive an extend is an old fashioned fi ghter. Match starts at 9.30 a.m. Rohit’s new gig the last throw of the dice Shafali, spinners seal series win for India game around and showed how a big would have succeeded. After the opener powers the side to 140, Poonam and Radha take over heart and sheer selfconfi dence can so Already Priyank Panchal has given metimes overcome technical the selectors a reminder with a century SA-WOMEN IN INDIA shortcomings. against South AfricaA while Abhima Rohit Sharma is not the fi rst middle nyu Easwaran, younger by fi ve years, P.K. Ajith Kumar order batsman who has been asked to has shown himself to be an organised SURAT BETWEEN WICKETS open, nor will he be the last. The selec batsman with an appetite for big scores. There was cricket, fi nally. tors are probably hoping that the move K.L. Rahul isn’t out of it yet, merely out The women’s T20I series, suresh menon will be as successful as the one initiated of form. Prithvi Shaw’s drugs ban ends badly aff ected by persistent by skipper Ganguly when he asked Vi in November soon after he turns 20 and rain over the last few days, ther things remaining equal, if the render Sehwag to open fi ve matches af he comes into reckoning again. resumed on Tuesday. And Ochoice for a Test place is between ter he began his career, like Rohit, with India clinched it in style. two players of unproven record at the a century on debut at No. 6. Sehwag Costly philosophy The 51run victory in the batting position available, the younger went on to rewrite the book on opening There is much to be said for selecting a fourth match at the Lalbhai man usually gets the job. Shubman Gill Test batting. India will settle for far less young player when he is in form and Contractor Stadium, in front is 20, and Rohit Sharma 32, so it should with Rohit — consistency and good getting runs consistently. It has hap of another big crowd, gave be a nobrainer. Yet, the senior man, starts with his partner so the middle or pened before that a promising young the host an unassailable 20 who has played 27 Tests and averages der can come into its own. ster who is kept waiting is fi nally chosen lead, with the last game to be over 85 in nine Tests at home, will be gi Ganguly understood the value of during a season when he is struggling, played on October 4 (the se ven one more chance to seal a place at having Sehwag in the side but didn’t and fi nishes with a career that is need cond and third games were the top of the order. know where to fi t him in. The middle lessly brief. “He is young, his turn will washed out). It was truly a Selectors, fans, teammates, former order read DravidTendulkarLaxman come,” is an Indian philosophy that has dominant show by the Wo players, and television commentators Ganguly. At this stage of his career, Ro cost us in the past. men in Blue against a South are all willing Rohit on to succeed; few hit Sharma gets a new gig not because Cricket selection works on the prin African side that failed to players in Indian cricket have had such the middle order is as strong, but as a ciple that the younger player deserves a give a fi ght in either innings. cheerleaders. way of salvaging a career in red ball chance to succeed while the older one The match was reduced to cricket that appears unfulfi lled, incom must be given a chance to fail. Rohit As a natural timer of the ball with the 17oversaside after the Laying the base: Shafali set it up with a 33-ball 46 while opening the innings. * VIJAY SONEJI instinct to attack, he brings to the game plete, and deeply unsatisfactory for a Sharma’s record in the shorter game game began an hour late be a touch and an attitude few possess, batsman who has charmed his way and the gut feeling that with experience cause of a wet outfi eld. A lot ping catches aplenty. sail over deep midwicket for perately wanted to strike and some of the support is understan through so many short innings. he might be less inclined to throw it went right for India, the On a night like this and in six. form; the lefthander was dable. If he could match his oneday re He will be up against Kagiso Rabada, away as he has in the past has earned host’s win fashioned by 15 front of a crowd like this, and The teenager from Harya dropped four times during cord (8000plus runs at 48, three dou one of only two bowlers in the game him a fi nal call. Attractive batsmanship yearold opener Shafali Ver at the time of the Navaratri na hit another six and fi ve her 19ball stay. ble centuries in 27 centuries overall), with over 100 wickets whose strike rate backed by allround support is a formu ma and the Yadav spin duo festival, the Indian women fours in her 33ball 46. Jemimah, however, en Indian cricket would certainly gain. If is in the 30s. Rabada spearheads an at la for persistence, although the likes of of Poonam and Radha, who were not going to say no to She was looking good sured that the contest would the experiment fails, then Rohit goes tack which also has Vernon Philander Karun Nair, for one, might believe he took fi ve wickets between all those gifts. Especially Sha enough for what would have also be remembered for the back to the cut and thrust of oneday and Ngidi Lungi, and if over the next could have done with similar support. them. fali, the girl who just loves to been a remarkable fi fty right reasons, as she played and T20 cricket, to fi nish as a footnote three Tests Rohit scores the runs that But it doesn’t come to everybody, not whack the ball. when she played Sekhuk some lovely strokes and ad in Indian Test history, a longsurviving inspires selfbelief for the tougher bat even someone who has a triple century Lowlight She had been dropped in hune on to her bat and then ded 40 for the fourth wicket disappointment and mighthavebeen. tles ahead, one part of the gamble in Tests. There were several high the second over while on pad before being bowled. with Deepti Sharma. It is a gamble India are willing to take, lights in the Indian innings, fi ve, by Lara Goodall at mid She had put on 52 for the That association, and the impact of possible success over such as the fearlessness on off Ayabonga Khakha, fi rst wicket with Smriti some brisk batting by Deepti coming the price of failure. showed by Shafali, the brief and then by Laura Wol Mandhana, someone the at the death, gave it a total it spell of ferocious hitting by vaardt, who ‘helped’ the ball South Africans seemed des could defend easily. No secrets skipper Harmanpreet Kaur Over the next three years India tour and the sweet timing of Jemi SCOREBOARD New Zealand, Australia, England and mah Rodrigues. But, it was INDIA SOUTH AFRICA BOWLING 3 (7b); Extras (b-1, w-6): 7; South Africa. Rohit averages 26 in 18 the lowlight that decided the Shafali Verma b Sekhukhune Ismail 4-0-22-0, Khaka 4-0- Total (for seven wkts. in 17 Tests abroad with a highest score of 79 course of the match: the 46 (33b, 5x4, 2x6), Smriti 33-1, Sekhukhune 2-0-22-1, overs): 89. in 33 innings. As opener he will be se fi elding of the visitors. Mandhana c du Preez b de Klerk Luus 2-0-16-0, de Klerk 3-0- FALL OF WICKETS verely tested with two kinds of bowling It was as if they had forgot 13 (19b, 2x4), Jemimah Rodrig- 24-2, Mlaba 2-0-22-0. 1-10 (Lee, 1.5 ov), 2-49 that aren’t popular in white ball cricket ten how to catch, after being ues b Khaka 33 (22b, 5x4), Har- SOUTH AFRICA (Wolvaardt, 7.6), 3-65 (de — the swinging delivery and the short denied play and practice for manpreet Kaur c Sekhukhune b Lizelle Lee run out 9 (11b, Klerk, 10.4), 4-65 (du Preez, one bowled into the ribs. There are no so long, perhaps. For most of de Klerk 16 (9b, 2x4, 1x6), 2x4), Tazmin Brits b Deepti 20 10.5), 5-72 (Luus, 12.5), 6-74 secrets — or helpful fi eld and bowling the innings, there seemed to Deepti Sharma (not out) 20 (23b, 2x4), Laura Wolvaardt c (Brits, 13.3), 7-85 (Ismail, 14.5). restrictions — in Test cricket. be a contest going on among (16b, 2x4), Pooja Vastrakar (not Jemimah b Radha 23 (24b, INDIA BOWLING (4b) This partially answers the question them: who will drop the next out) 5 ; Extras (b-1, nb-1, 4x4), Nadine de Klerk c Shafali Deepti 4-0-19-1, Shikha 3-0- w-5): 7; Total (for four wkts. in b Poonam 9 (11b, 1x4), Miguel 21-0, Pooja 2-0-5-0, Harman- fans often ask: How can a player who catch? 17 overs): 140. du Preez c Veda b Poonam 0 preet 2-0-14-0, Poonam 3-0- dominates white ball cricket be so or That was after the South FALL OF WICKETS (1b), Sune Luus st. Taniya b 13-3, Radha 3-0-16-2. dinary in the red ball version? Tech African captain Sune Luus 1-52 (Smriti, 6.6 overs), 2-65 Poonam 5 (8b), Lara Goodall Toss: South Africa. nique isn’t everything, of course. Sou The clincher: Rohit Sharma’s record in the shorter game and the gut feeling that decided to fi eld fi rst. She (Shafali, 8.3), 3-89 (Harman- (not out) 8 (12b, 1x4), Shabnim Playerofthematch: Poonam. rav Ganguly who initially struggled with with experience he might be less inclined to throw it away have swung things would not have anticipated preet, 10.5), 4-129 (Jemimah, Ismail c Deepti b Radha 5 (5b, India won by 51 runs and some of the same issues, changed his in his favour. * K.R. DEEPAK her side would soon be drop 15.5). 1x4), Ayabonga Khaka (not out) leads five-match series 2-0.
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