Proteas wanted India to 'grovel' before 'going all out for the win,' says coach Shukri Conrad

When the Proteas arrived a fortnight ago they carried with them the hefty baggage of not having won a Test in India for 15 years, let alone a series since the turn of the millennium. 

But such has been the events that have unfolded, that the Proteas now find themselves heading into the final day of the two-match series eight wickets away from completing a 2-0 cleansweep. The only quibble is about how long they actually took to declare their second innings.

It eventually came with an hour of play remaining on the fourth evening, when captain Temba Bavuma called time after Tristan Stubbs’s dismissal for 94 with the Proteas on 260/5, setting India a world-record target of 549.

It caused coach Shukri Conrad to injudiciously reference Tony Greig’s infamous “grovel” phrase, which the former England captain made ahead of the West Indies tour to the UK in 1976. 

"We obviously looked at how best we were going to use the new ball, because in the morning we still wanted a newish, hardish ball," Conrad said.

"What we felt is that when the shadows come across the wicket in the evening, there's something in it for the quick bowlers, so we didn't want to declare too early and not be able to use that.

"And then, obviously, we wanted the Indians to spend as much time on their feet out in the field. We wanted them to really grovel, to steal a phrase, bat them completely out the game, and then say to them, 'come and survive on the last day and an hour this evening.'

"So, so far so good, but we also know that they're not just going to roll over, we're going to have to be at our very best in the morning." 

Conrad’s throwaway line – albeit in an entirely different context to South Africa-born exile Greig disparaging statements about a Black cricket team in the midst of Apartheid – should not deflect from another dominant day by the Proteas in Guwahati. 

Few teams have come to India and dominated a Test match in the manner the Proteas have done since Senuran Muthusamy and Marco Jansen’s 97-run partnership on the second day.

Considering also all the “hurt”, according to Bavuma’s pre-series comments, the Proteas have previously endured in India, the psyche behind pushing India to their limits in the field cannot be undervalued. 

The biggest talking point was how far the Proteas were willing to push their hosts time wise. 

It just so happened the decision to declare was around the same time as Stubbs was closing in on a third Test century, which he ultimately missed out on by six runs attempting to sweep Ravindra Jadeja over the mid-wicket fence – as he did earlier in the over.

“I don't think there's a right and a wrong in anything," said Conrad, regarding the timing of teh declaration.

"We wanted India to come out again after lunch ... and again, spend time on their feet. Their bowlers spent a lot of time out there, we saw the effects of batting for two full days in the first innings and what sort of effect it had on them."

“It was never going to be easy for the opening batters to come this evening, especially with the new ball and shadows across the wicket. We felt we could have struck there.

“So, if (Wednesday) evening it comes that we have them eight down and people say, ‘well, see I told you so’, well, I mean, we've got to base it on our sound judgement and if that doesn't work out, well, it doesn't.”

The Proteas have already sent both Indian openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul back to the pavilion through that excellent pace and spin combination of Jansen and Harmer – who are the joint leading wicket-takers in the series with 12 apiece.

Conrad is confident the duo can add a few more on Wednesday to complete what will be a memorable and historic triumph. 

“This game never ceases to amaze us. But I'd like to think that the series is secured, I'd like to think that. Hopefully Marco, the spinners can do the job tomorrow. We're going to go all out for the win. Obviously, 2-0 is a lot better than 1-0,” he said.

SCOREBOARD

Second Test, Day 4, Stumps

South Africa 489 all out & 260/5

Stubbs 94, De Zorzi 49, Jadeja 4/62

India: 201 all out & 27/2

Jaiswal 13, Jansen 1/14, Harmer 1/1

India requires 522 runs for victory