Jan. 14: One of the key challenges that India will have to confront as they hope for a series-levelling win against South Africa in the day-nighter on Saturday won’t actually come from the home side, but rather the geographical location of the Wanderers. The stadium is 6,000 feet above sea level which creates a unique atmosphere — or lack of it — for the players.
The air is noticeably thinner at such a height and after three weeks down at sea level for the Durban and Cape Town Tests it will take some getting used to. The batsmen tend to notice it running while between the wickets, the fielders while chasing down boundaries — and the ball seems to travel that much quicker at altitude — and the fast bowlers notice it while coming off their long runs. “It’s unbelievable. There’s no oxygen,” India opener Murali Vijay told this newspaper on Friday. “Your body, your lungs can feel it just in the warm-up. We’ve been at sea level a long time, at Durban and Cape Town, so coming back to altitude is something that takes a bit of getting used to.”
As a home team has every right to do, South Africa have been clever in their scheduling of this tour. Coming from the plains back home, some of the Indians were straightway given the first Test at Centurion Park which is also on the highveld.
Many players came to South Africa on coach Gary Kirsten’s request, but they too spent time at his Cape Town-based academy. The air in Cape Town is slighter cooler than Durban, but the both cities are at sea level. In Centurion, India lost that match on Day One morning itself when they were shot out for 136. Since that game, India have spent the last 15 days on the sea coast, before being handed another game in this altitude.
Dhoni too admitted the high-altitude conditions would be a challenge, but was confident of negotiating them well. “The ball travels really fast here. While fielding or batting, ball will come to you a bit faster. But most of us have played here so that should not be a problem,” he said.