Race for top spot to spice up series
Nagpur, Feb. 5: The series has not received its high billing for nothing. There is a lot more at stake for India and South Africa over the next two weeks than mere victory. A battle between the two top teams in world cricket has generated good interest and Test cricket is in the news for the right reasons.
India (124 points) will have to come out of the series undefeated to hold on to their top rank while the Proteas have to win at least 1-0 to reclaim ownership of the No. 1 spot.
The visitors have had not had it good in the last few months. The returns against England were far from satisfying, the Tests ending 1-1 after the Proteas dominated three of the four games. Some of the South African players agreed to their slip in the last few months. Senior batsman AB de Villiers noted there was little to choose between the top three teams. "India are a really good side and almost unbeatable at home. But we have our own goals. We might have lost a bit of vision in the last few months. The series against England was a missed opportunity but we did play some good cricket and we are confident of doing well here. The rankings are hardly a part of our plans," said de Villiers.
Spinner Johan Botha and coach Cornelius van Zyl echoed similar sentiments. "We are looking at improving as a team. We don’t want to put any emphasis on numbers. Those are things that take care of themselves and we are looking to win the series, and whatever happens after that does not concern us," van Zyl said.
The stage is set for an exciting albeit a hurriedly-arranged short series.
AGE CORRESPONDENT
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