India vs South Africa 2015: Hosts’ potent tail will prove crucial in Tests

The presence of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja will boost India's hopes of a better batting performance down the order.

The scars of the fifth One-Day International (ODI) at Mumbai will still be fresh when India face off against South Africa in the first Test of the four-match series in Mohali on November 5. Rarely have India been manhandled with such brute savagery on their own home soil as they were at the Wankhede. While India have several challenges to face ahead of taking on a spirited South African side in the longest format, the hosts can take heart from the fact that they could could expect their unusually strong tail to offer support to their top order thanks to some reliable lower-order batsmen. Amit Banerjee throws further light on the topic.

India have a long list of problems to deal with at the moment in the Gandhi-Mandela series. One of the foremost of these is the lack of confidence their bowlers have inspired due to their repeated failures in the limited-overs fixtures against South Africa. They lost the Twenty20 International (T20I) series 0-2, and later surrendered the ODI series meekly in the final ODI after coming back from behind to draw level in the series. READ: South Africa hand India 214-run thrashing in final ODI in Mumbai

Having already lost two battles so far with the T20Is and the ODIs, India prepare themselves for the war in the longest format; one which will see the hosts captained by Virat Kohli instead of MS Dhoni. Kohli’s captaincy in the five-day format has been much-discussed in recent times following India’s 2-1 series win in Sri Lanka. While the young captain has plenty of challenges in the upcoming series, he can rest assured of getting some support from the lower-order in terms of scoring runs and holding on to their wickets.

Among the members of the Indian Test squad are the likes of Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Amit Mishra, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav, and Varun Aaron. Jadeja has been terrific in the recent Ranji Trophy 2015-16 matches, while Umesh even got his maiden First-Class century for Vidarbha in their opening fixture against Odisha. Jadeja has hit two half-centuries in the ongoing Ranji Trophy on turning tracks, in addition to his exceptional display with the ball. Jadeja was a crucial cog in India’s team over the last couple of years and his loss of form was a major reason India have struggled to find a suitable No. 7 post ICC Cricket World Cup 2015.

Ashwin has had many a memorable performance with the bat, as is evident from his two centuries and five half-centuries in 43 innings at an average of 32. Ashwin will be counted as the main batsman in the lower order, and will be expected to provide one of the top or middle-order batsman support from the other end, or take charge with the bat with the lower order is left to fend for themselves. Apart from his two centuries, Ashwin has scored some valuable half-centuries in trying conditions, the most recent of which was 58 in the third and final Test in Colombo (SSC) to save India from a precarious position and help them set a tough target for Sri Lanka. READ: Ravichandran Ashwin close to fitness ahead of India vs South Africa Test series

There are others down the order that can bat too. Mishra was good enough to bat ahead of Ashwin in the third Test against Sri Lanka where he scored a half-century. He has shown sound batting technique in the past, and will make for a solid No. 9. Bhuvneshwar Kumar scored three impressive half-centuries in India’s tour of England in 2014, and will also be an important willow-wielder to the side. Ishant Sharma is a renowned stonewaller (remember his 31 in the Mohali Test against Australia?) and can hold his end up when required. Given Umesh’s century, he will feel confident of his abilities as well. Varun Aaron is perhaps the least accomplished batsman of the lot, but he is not quite a rank tailender either; certainly not in the league of Pankaj Singh or Chris Martin.

(Amit Banerjee, a reporter at CricketCountry, takes keen interest in photography, travelling, technology, automobiles, food and, of course, cricket. He can be followed on Twitter via his handle @akb287)

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