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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| India put S Africa under pressure | India put S Africa under pressure |
| (1 day later) | |
| Careers will be on the line when South Africa take on India in the second Test in Durban, beginning on Tuesday. | Careers will be on the line when South Africa take on India in the second Test in Durban, beginning on Tuesday. |
| South Africa coach Mickey Arthur has had to endure a newspaper campaign for him to be sacked after India's upset victory in the opening Test. | South Africa coach Mickey Arthur has had to endure a newspaper campaign for him to be sacked after India's upset victory in the opening Test. |
| Home captain Graeme Smith has made only 453 runs in nine Tests and will be under pressure for his place. | Home captain Graeme Smith has made only 453 runs in nine Tests and will be under pressure for his place. |
| And India openers Virender Sehwag and Wasim Jaffer failed in the opening match, with selectors mulling a change. | And India openers Virender Sehwag and Wasim Jaffer failed in the opening match, with selectors mulling a change. |
| India were underdogs coming into the series, with a perceived weakness against pace bowling, but secured a 123-run win in Johannesburg - their first ever in South Africa. | India were underdogs coming into the series, with a perceived weakness against pace bowling, but secured a 123-run win in Johannesburg - their first ever in South Africa. |
| Shanthakumaran Sreesanth and Zaheer Khan made better use of the conditions and dismissed the hosts for 84 in their first innings. | Shanthakumaran Sreesanth and Zaheer Khan made better use of the conditions and dismissed the hosts for 84 in their first innings. |
| While India celebrated, Arthur was put in the spotlight as South Africa have now won seven and lost 11 Tests since his appointment in May 2005. | While India celebrated, Arthur was put in the spotlight as South Africa have now won seven and lost 11 Tests since his appointment in May 2005. |
| Their three series wins have come against lowly Zimbabwe, West Indies and New Zealand. | Their three series wins have come against lowly Zimbabwe, West Indies and New Zealand. |
| Smith's form has dipped since the heights of 2003 when he hit two double centuries against England and 1,198 runs in the calendar year at an average of 63.05. | Smith's form has dipped since the heights of 2003 when he hit two double centuries against England and 1,198 runs in the calendar year at an average of 63.05. |
| We know we played badly and we know we have the ability to turn it around Graeme Smith | We know we played badly and we know we have the ability to turn it around Graeme Smith |
| In the last 12 months, Smith has passed 50 just twice, in the same match against New Zealand at the end of last season. | In the last 12 months, Smith has passed 50 just twice, in the same match against New Zealand at the end of last season. |
| However, it was fellow opener Herschelle Gibbs who took the most blame for the Johannesburg debacle as he registered a pair. | However, it was fellow opener Herschelle Gibbs who took the most blame for the Johannesburg debacle as he registered a pair. |
| Gibbs will be moved to bat at six in Durban, with AB de Villiers moved up to open with Smith. | Gibbs will be moved to bat at six in Durban, with AB de Villiers moved up to open with Smith. |
| "There's no doubt that we can turn it around," said Smith. | "There's no doubt that we can turn it around," said Smith. |
| "We know we played badly and we know we have the ability to turn it around." | "We know we played badly and we know we have the ability to turn it around." |
| The home side will make a late decision over the fitness of fast bowler Dale Steyn, who suffered a thigh injury during the first Test. | The home side will make a late decision over the fitness of fast bowler Dale Steyn, who suffered a thigh injury during the first Test. |
| Morne Morkel is on standby to make his debut, while left-arm spin bowler Paul Harris could take a Test bow if the pitch looks suitable. | Morne Morkel is on standby to make his debut, while left-arm spin bowler Paul Harris could take a Test bow if the pitch looks suitable. |
| Kingsmead is usually a seam-friendly ground, though. In 1996/97 India were blown away for 100 and 66, with Allan Donald claiming match figures of 9-54. | Kingsmead is usually a seam-friendly ground, though. In 1996/97 India were blown away for 100 and 66, with Allan Donald claiming match figures of 9-54. |
| India's opening win came despite opening stands of just 14 and 20, and Jaffer's place came under more pressure when Gautan Gambhir scored 79 in a two-day practice match this week. | India's opening win came despite opening stands of just 14 and 20, and Jaffer's place came under more pressure when Gautan Gambhir scored 79 in a two-day practice match this week. |
| The tourists seem likely to strengthen their pace attack, with Munaf Patel, recovered from injury, set to replace VRV Singh, who was not impressive in Johannesburg. | The tourists seem likely to strengthen their pace attack, with Munaf Patel, recovered from injury, set to replace VRV Singh, who was not impressive in Johannesburg. |
| Pathan performed indifferently in the three one-day internationals he played against South Africa, and he was not selected for the first test in Johannesburg. | |
| South Africa (from): G Smith (capt), AB de Villiers, H Amla, J Kallis, A Prince, H Gibbs, M Boucher, S Pollock, A Nel, M Ntini, D Steyn, A Hall, J Rudolph, P Harris, M Morkel. | South Africa (from): G Smith (capt), AB de Villiers, H Amla, J Kallis, A Prince, H Gibbs, M Boucher, S Pollock, A Nel, M Ntini, D Steyn, A Hall, J Rudolph, P Harris, M Morkel. |
| India (from): R Dravid (capt), V Sehwag, W Jaffer, G Gambhir, S Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, S Ganguly, M Dhoni, A Kumble, Z Khan, S Sreesanth, M Patel, VRV Singh, D Karthik, Harbhajan Singh. |