Indians face altitude issue

There is always a challenge in one’s career which every champion has to pass to prove his mettle to the world. The Indian Test team is staring at theirs’ in South Africa now. If MS Dhoni’s men emerge victorious in the three-Test series starting on December 16, it would silence a few critics.

From the Bradman’s Invincibles to Clive Lloyd’s Calypso Kings to Steve Waugh’s Unbeatables, none will grudge that Dale Steyn and Co have it in them to provide the ultimate test to any opposition.

For India, it is not just another overseas tour — they will have to defy history. They have lost all four Test series in the SA Republic since the inaugural four-Test ‘Friendship Tour’ in the 1992-93 season which the South Africans won 1-0. They have fared no better in the ODIs during this time.

The experts are unanimous that start will be the key. Hence, Centurion is the venue which should be giving the Indian think-tank sleepless nights — not that Kingsmead (2nd Test) in Durban and Newland’s (3rd Test) in Cape Town, are among India’s favourite venues. But having played there, they know what to expect. Centurion brings the fear of the unknown as it is the first time India will be playing a Test there.

Former South Africa coach Richard Pybus, who coached the Centurion-based team Titans from 2005 to 2009, told DNA getting acclimatised to the high altitude will be an important factor in the first Test. “For guys coming from the sea-level, it may feel that their fitness has been reduced to half. It may leave them breathless,” Pybus remarked.

Centurion is 1363m (4471 ft) above sea-level.

The teams’ batting line-ups virtually even it out with India’s top six being world class, felt Pybus. He said it is Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel who give the home team the edge.

However, given their experience and class, the Indian top-order shouldn’t have much problems coping with the pace attack. The game-changing phases in the Indian innings might be how the Indian lower-order copes with the SA pacers, warned Pybus.

“Steyn is brilliant in cleaning up the tail. He’s mastered it. The Indian top-order will be fine, but even if they have reached 200 for five, the lower orders performance will be crucial. That is when the Steyn factor will come into play,” said Pybus.

Lance Klusener believes India’s biggest strength this time is in having his former teammate Gary Kirsten as their coach. “This is the best prepared Indian team to come to South Africa. It’s about mental preparation and Gary’s inputs will be invaluable. He batted at the top order. He knows these conditions in and out; what to expect and how to bat long on such wickets. He will know the exact lengths the bowlers have to bowl,” Klusener said.

“For me, it will be a battle between Indian’s batsmen and our pace bowlers.”

The former all-rounder, a powerful strokeplayer himself, said Virender Sehwag’s contest with Steyn will be the one to watch.
“Sehwag is a devastating batsman because he takes the attack back to the bowlers. But he will have to be on top of his game here due to the extra pace and bounce. He’s scored all over the world and he will have his days, but don’t think he will be as consistent. If he’s the man of the series, India will win comfortably,” said Klusener.