Comment

Most times there is so little spoken about Paul Harris ahead of a Test match involving South Africa. He is written off by opposition teams. He is the supporting actor whose role is not central to the storyline but without whom the plot falls flat.

In an attack comprising the best fast bowler in the world, left-arm spinner Harris is the one who chokes the life out of the enemy after they have been bombarded and flattened by intimidatory tactics of the 140-plus kilometre per hour variety.

When India began their up-the-hill effort to save the first Test they would have known that Harris would come into play. And he did.Harris won the battle against accomplished batsmen who can play spin in their sleep.

Harris’s strangulating line and length from over the wicket and outside leg stump afforded Indian batsmen no room to play. Harris employed a similar ploy against the Indians three years ago in New Lands, Cape Town, when he bowled outside the leg-stump and made the Indians work hard for their runs. He got the better of Sachin Tendulkar at New Lands. After a prolonged fight he prevailed over the Indian maestro at Jamtha.

Harris tested the patience of Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Sachin Tendulkar during their 70-run stand that consumed 157 balls. Tendulkar used the sweep to earn runs, a shot that was to lead to his downfall, against Harris. Tendulkar scored 24 off 78 deliveries against the left-arm spinner but this scoring rate looked healthy in comparison to Dhoni’s three off 36 against Harris.

Dhoni used his pads more often than his bat against Harris and never looked comfortable against the quicks. After hanging around for 144 balls, Harris induced an inside edge onto pad from Dhoni which AB De Villiers didn’t spill at silly point.

Tendulkar was the most comfortable batsman against Harris’ defensive line but soon after reaching a fine hundred, his 46th in Tests and third in as many matches, was bowled by Harris. Tendulkar failed to connect with a sweep and the ball ricocheted off his pads onto the arm and then disturbed the stumps.

Harris dominated the proceedings coming into play in the fourth over of the day. In all, he bowled 17 maidens in his 38 overs when India followed on. Murali Vijay looked at ease till he decided to sweep Harris only to get a top edge and get caught at fine leg.
Harris’ growing stature in international cricket has been built around an ability to frustrate the batsmen and that he has been successful again, especially against the Indians in their own backyard will be a feather in his cap. However, Tendulkar, Dhoni and Vijay cannot shift any blame for their rather soft dismissals after long stints at the wicket.