FOR the first time in 25 consecutive matches stretching back to February, South Africa are not thinking about how to beat Pakistan.
Instead, they are plotting the downfall of India, who were scheduled to touch down at OR Tambo International early this morning.
The first of three one-day internationals will be played at the Wanderers on Thursday.
The ODIs will be followed by two tests.
India promises to make more challenging opponents than Pakistan. They are second to the Proteas in the test rankings and on top of the one-day list, where South Africa are fifth.
MS Dhoni’s team have won five of their last eight completed ODIs, which they have played at home against Australia and West Indies.
Their average total in those matches is 299.63.
Of their 14 ODIs against Pakistan this year, South Africa have won nine. They have scored an average 234.36 runs per innings.
But AB de Villiers suggested India’s numbers wouldn’t compare quite so favourably with South Africa’s conditions.
“India are a more attacking batting unit, but they have been playing on small grounds at home,” De Villiers said.
However, he acknowledged the Indians had the “ability to hit boundaries and to score more quickly than most other teams”.
He said South Africa would have to “look to strike at their batsmen with the new ball”.
What with their batting not as consistent as they would like it to be, South Africa will have to lean on their bowlers more than usual to stay competitive against India.
Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq concurred: “India have a quality batting line-up and in SA conditions the series will be a good contest. Like it is for us, their batting is a concern for them.”
Virat Kohli is the leading runscorer in ODIs this year with 1 237 in 28 innings.
Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dawan are also among the top five.
Kohli averages 56.22 and has four centuries and seven 50s, while Sharma’s 209 against Australia in Bangalore on November 2 was only the third double century in the 3 428 ODIs played up to that point.
South Africans will remember Dawan for the 1 14 he scored against the Proteas in their Champions Trophy match in Cardiff on June 6, and for smashing 248 off 150 balls for India A against their SA counterparts in a List A match in Pretoria on August 12 – an innings spiked with 30 fours and seven sixes.
South Africa’s leading one-day batsman this year is De Villiers, who has scored 974 runs in 23 innings.
Hashim Amla, with 660 runs in 19 trips to the crease, is the only other South African player in the top 15.
South Africa have been 2013’s third busiest ODI team with 26 games, three fewer than Pakistan.
Proteas plotting the downfall of high-riding India
Instead, they are plotting the downfall of India, who were scheduled to touch down at OR Tambo International early this morning.
The first of three one-day internationals will be played at the Wanderers on Thursday.
The ODIs will be followed by two tests.
India promises to make more challenging opponents than Pakistan. They are second to the Proteas in the test rankings and on top of the one-day list, where South Africa are fifth.
MS Dhoni’s team have won five of their last eight completed ODIs, which they have played at home against Australia and West Indies.
Their average total in those matches is 299.63.
Of their 14 ODIs against Pakistan this year, South Africa have won nine. They have scored an average 234.36 runs per innings.
But AB de Villiers suggested India’s numbers wouldn’t compare quite so favourably with South Africa’s conditions.
“India are a more attacking batting unit, but they have been playing on small grounds at home,” De Villiers said.
However, he acknowledged the Indians had the “ability to hit boundaries and to score more quickly than most other teams”.
He said South Africa would have to “look to strike at their batsmen with the new ball”.
What with their batting not as consistent as they would like it to be, South Africa will have to lean on their bowlers more than usual to stay competitive against India.
Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq concurred: “India have a quality batting line-up and in SA conditions the series will be a good contest. Like it is for us, their batting is a concern for them.”
Virat Kohli is the leading runscorer in ODIs this year with 1 237 in 28 innings.
Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dawan are also among the top five.
Kohli averages 56.22 and has four centuries and seven 50s, while Sharma’s 209 against Australia in Bangalore on November 2 was only the third double century in the 3 428 ODIs played up to that point.
South Africans will remember Dawan for the 1 14 he scored against the Proteas in their Champions Trophy match in Cardiff on June 6, and for smashing 248 off 150 balls for India A against their SA counterparts in a List A match in Pretoria on August 12 – an innings spiked with 30 fours and seven sixes.
South Africa’s leading one-day batsman this year is De Villiers, who has scored 974 runs in 23 innings.
Hashim Amla, with 660 runs in 19 trips to the crease, is the only other South African player in the top 15.
South Africa have been 2013’s third busiest ODI team with 26 games, three fewer than Pakistan.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending Now
Latest Videos