South Africa’s coaching staff shared their early assessment of the Guwahati pitch ahead of the second Test, as scrutiny continues after the Eden Gardens controversy. (Image Credit: X/@ImTanujSingh)
India will aim for a strong comeback in the second Test of the two-match series against South Africa, which is scheduled to start on Saturday, November 22, at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati.
After an emphatic 30-run loss in Kolkata, where the Test finished inside three days and the Eden Gardens surface became the subject of considerable controversy, the pressure is squarely on the hosts. The task becomes even steeper with captain Shubman Gill ruled out owing to a grievous neck injury suffered during the opening Test.
The big question on everyone's mind remains the nature of the Guwahati wicket. Having faced severe criticism for an excessively helpful Kolkata pitch for bowlers, eyes are now on the curators in Guwahati. Will the venue deliver a more even contest, or will the surface again make the match totally one-sided?
The bowling coach of South Africa, Piet Botha, provided an interesting early assessment after having a look at the pitch on Thursday morning. “It's still two days to go, so difficult to predict if more grass will be shaved off or not,” he said. The surface, built on red soil, has a visible green layer at the moment, and that might shape the early exchanges.
According to Botha, the initial impression suggests a fair batting wicket that may take turn later in the Test. “Maybe it starts earlier, given what happened in the previous Test,” he cautioned, referring to the unexpectedly sharp turn and variable bounce at Eden Gardens.
South Africa are expecting that as the game wears on, spin will play a big role in proceedings-something that might work in India's favor given their disappointing batting performance in the first Test.
The more crucial factor in Guwahati could be the start time. Play starts at 9 a.m., half an hour ahead of what is often the case. Botha thinks this change will directly impact the behavior of the new ball.
"It will be a little cooler. Nights are hot, but there will be more moisture. The first hour will be important for the new ball," he said. The Proteas seamers are expected to heavily rely on the morning conditions, hoping to replicate the success they found in Kolkata.
For a good surface, conventional wisdom suggests batting first. Still, Botha seemed wary: “If the wicket is good, then batting first is a good option. But if it’s like Kolkata, then it hardly matters.” Meanwhile, India will be desperate for clarity off both the pitch and their top order. The absence of Shubman Gill means the team needs to regroup quickly to avoid a rare series defeat at home.
