TALKING POINTS | Five plays that powered the Proteas to historic Test series triumph in India

South Africa’s landmark Test series win in India was built on a handful of defining moments. From Marco Jansen’s boundary-racing brilliance to Temba Bavuma’s grit and Simon Harmer’s redemption, these are the five plays that shaped a historic triumph.

Here, Ongama Gwabe unpacks the moments that defined a historic 2-0 series victory

Jansen’s blinder in Guwahati

Given that Marco Jansen is currently the tallest cricketer in international cricket, one would not normally mention his name and the word agility in the same sentence.

However, the 25-year old is the exception to the rule. From his early days in Test cricket, Jansen proved himself worthy of the gully fielder position, while simultaneously taking the new ball.

On Wednesday, he produced his best catch yet, sprinting from mid-on to take a one-handed catch near the boundary, dismissing Mohammed Siraj and handing the Proteas their first series triumph in India in twenty-five years.

None can deny the skipper

Series like this often require the leaders in the team to take responsibility, and Temba Bavuma did just that with the bat at Eden Gardens in the first Test. The 35-year old, having endured two series whitewashes in India — in 2015 and 2019 — delivered a masterclass in defending on spin-friendly wickets.

While batters from both sides struggled against the turning ball, Bavuma made it look simple as he battled to an unbeaten fifty-five, setting up South Africa’s 30-run win — the Proteas’ first Test victory in India in fifteen years.

The contrasting margins of victory between the first and second Tests, moreover, revealed the confidence the Proteas took into each match. Before the opener, belief may have been limited; before the second, it brimmed.

Bavuma’s catch to dismiss Axar Patel off an expensive Keshav Maharaj over in a tense conclusion to the first Test, set the tone for the broader series triumph. He calmly held the chance, showing his teammates that they could all execute under immense pressure.

In short, the time has come to place Bavuma unequivocally in the discussions regarding best captains to ever lead the Proteas in the Test arena.

Harmer’s first five-for in India

It takes courage to return to the country where your career once faltered, but Simon Harmer did just exactly that. A decade ago, though Harmer was not poor — taking two four-wicket hauls — he was inevitably compared to Ravi Ashwin, who dismantled the Proteas.

As a result, Harmer never cemented his place in the Test side. This month, however, he faced those old demons and returned home with 17 wickets at an average of eight, including his first five-wicket haul on Indian soil.

Muthusamy’s defiant ton

It must have stung when Senuran Muthusamy learned he would miss the first Test, especially after winning Player of the Series in Pakistan and claiming the ICC Men’s Player of the Month award in October. But the 31-year old responded in the best possible way, blunting India with a defiant maiden Test century.

Having toured India six years ago, Muthusamy became one of the few Proteas warriors to confront past scars and emerge triumphant in this landmark series.

Markram’s hands are mighty

Aiden Markram might not have had the best of series with the bat at the top of the order, however, on the field, the 31-year-old was impressive.

In series as big as this one, catches often separate the losing team from the winners, and in the slip cordon, Markram was exemplary in the second Test as he returned a record nine catches across the two innings.

With South Africa having had some of the game’s best slip fielders with the likes of Jacques Kallis and Graeme Smith, Markram continued that legacy as he played a vital part in South Africa’s success in India.