India vs South Africa 1st Test LIVE SCORE : Visitors go into Lunch at 74/2
Pitch Report
Good grass cover and swing movement is expected with the new ball. The pitch will open up and pose problems for batting after Day 2. The side winning the toss will prefer to bat first.
Teams
South Africa: Alviro Petersen, Dean Elgar, Graeme Smith, Hashim Amla, JP Duminy, Faf du Plessis, Jacques Kallis, Vernon Philander, AB de Villiers, Thami Tsolekile, Dale Steyn, Imran Tahir, Morne Morkel, Robin Peterson, Rory Kleinveldt
India: Ajinkya Rahane, Cheteshwar Pujara, Murali Vijay, Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli, Ravindra Jadeja, Ambati Rayudu, MS Dhoni, Wriddhiman Saha, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Ishant Sharma, Pragyan Ojha, Ravichandran Ashwin, Shami Ahmed, Umesh Yadav, Zaheer Khan
Brief Preview
After a brilliant ODI series, South Africa will be take on India now for the two-match Test series. South Africa start as clear favourites with the first match at Wanderers, Johannesburg. It’s a testing time for India as their young generation will be taking on the experienced South African players. India will be without Tendulkar for the first time for a Test series in South Africa since their re-birth in this arena.The last time India came here, they managed to draw the series and this can boost their morale.
Things will be different this time around though. Batting sensations like Virat Kohli, Shikhar Dhawan, Cheteshwar Pujara, Rohit Sharma will be playing against a top quality bowling side which has Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel and Vernon Philander. Whereas India’s bowling is the weak spot and particularly, overseas, they haven’t had a lot of success. With the return of Zaheer Khan, they have an experienced campaigner. If he stays fit, it will be a big positive for India. Indian bowlers will have a difficult task against a solid batting side which has the likes of Hashim Amla, AB de Villiers, Jacques Kallis and the successful skipper Graeme Smith.Australia, New Zealand and Pakistan were bundled out cheaply against the South Africans recently. Indian players will be up for a tough challenge against a formidable South African side. If they play to their potential, this could be an interesting game.
LIVE SCORE
