Finally, an end to South Africa’s glorious nine-year run in Test cricket

Nine long years and fifteen away trips without losing an away series, all it took was seven days for India to end South Africa’s memorable run.

There’s a saying that all good things come to an end. On Friday, at VCA Stadium in Nagpur, South Africa helplessly witnessed their nine-year long streak of not losing a Test series outside their country getting over, as India beat them by 124 runs to take a 2-0 lead in the four-match series. It seems India has made it a habit to end glorious runs. Twice they halted Australia’s 16-match winning run in Test cricket, halted England when they had gone undefeated for 10 away series on a row and this could have been South Africa’s 16th away outing on a trot without losing. Had they travelled to four more nations not losing then they would have surpassed West Indies, but that wasn’t to be. FULL CRICKET SCORECARD: India vs South Africa 2015, 3rd Test at Nagpur

Nine long years and fifteen away trips without losing an away series, all it took was seven days for India to end South Africa’s memorable run. Even their longest partnership of the series — 72 — between captain Hashim Amla and Faf du Plessis couldn’t prevent a 124-run defeat. Perhaps a better side outplayed them, at least in conditions presented to them. FULL UPDATES: Day 3, Nagpur Test

It was in July-August 2006 when South Africa under Ashwell Prince lost the two-match Test series in Sri Lanka 2-0. Since then it’s been a remarkable run. Let’s see how South Africa have fared in Test series outside their country.

In times when teams have dominated at home and got tamed outside, South Africa under the able leadership of Graeme Smith emerged as world-beaters as they rose to the No.1 spot. They may not be have been the Australia of 2000s or West Indies under Clive Lloyd and Viv Richards, but they have won around the world. Dale Steyn stepping up as the No. 1 Test bowler with able support from Morne Morkel, Vernon Philander and others have taken care of the bowling. While from the batting front they enjoyed a fabulous combination of Graeme Smith, Jacques Kallis, AB de Villiers and Hashim Amla. Later, Faf du Plessis’ rise further boosted that department.

In the recent times, England, India and South Africa were the other team who enjoyed the No. 1 rank, but in terms of overseas performance South Africa clearly have been the dominant. Their record away from home in the recent years stands out. Prior to the ongoing series in India, during the nine-year long streak, South Africa’s record look:

From September 2006 to September 2015, South Africa in away Tests

Four more undefeated series and South Africa would have created history, but when we look at the table they sit at the second spot and that’s commendable. Read:“Diabolical” pitch or not, this is Test cricket!

Longest unbeaten streaks in away series in Test cricket

South Africa benefitted from the fact that they had quality batsmen like Smith, de Villiers and Amla. In Kallis, they probably had one of the greatest cricketers of all time and then there’s Dale Steyn, a man who has run through sides at will.

When we look at South Africa’s honeymoon period solely in the subcontinent, it hasn’t been as dominating as elsewhere. All the five draw series have come in the subcontinent with two in India and two against Pakistan in the UAE. Last year, in Sri Lanka, the difference between South Africa’s series win and a draw result was two wickets. They just managed to save the second Test at SSC, Colombo to lift the trophy.

With Smith and Kallis retired, South Africa are probably going through a transition phase. There will be talks about the tailor-made pitches in India but like Amla showed today and de Villiers in the previous matches that a little of application could have made the difference. Also, despite being topside, their spin attack lacks the sting to counter subcontinent giants like India and Pakistan.

Coming back to Nagpur, the track saw nervous-30s at galore (Wriddhiman Saha 32, Ravindra Jadeja 34, JP Duminy 35, Shikhar Dhawan 39, Cheteshwar Pujara 31, Amla 39 and du Plessis 39) with Murali Vijay being the only one to score 40. Despite the conditions, like true champions and No. 1 the Proteas didn’t complain. Maybe a de Villiers’ heroic could have helped them chase down 310 but once he departed for nine, getting outfoxed by the wily Ravichandran Ashwin, the win was a formality that India completed later in the day. In the end, a fair result and it was only apt that they went down fighting. Read: Ravichandran Ashwin has some way to go before he can be called ‘World Class’

The golden run ends, but No. 1 Test crown remains with South Africa and it will be foolish of anyone to write them off as both the sides look to lock horns at Delhi for the final Test.

(Suvajit Mustafi consumes cricket for lunch, fiction for dinner and munches numerous other snacks throughout the day. Yes, a jack of several trades, all Suvajit dreamt of was being India’s World Cup winning skipper but ended up being a sports writer, author, screenwriter, director, copywriter, graphic designer, sports marketer , strategist, entrepreneur,  philosopher and traveller. Donning so many hats, it’s cricket which gives him the ultimate high and where he finds solace. He can be followed at @RibsGully and rivu7)

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