By Jacques Kallis
The only positive for South Africa after the first day in Bengaluru was the knowledge that they have suffered days as bad as that in the past, and survived them.
It will be a long way back from here but the players must not look too far ahead. Today is a new day for both teams and there is an awfully long way to go in the match with a lot of cricket between now and day five.
India’s decision to bowl first was brave and the result was a great success – probably exceeding their best expectations. The wicket almost certainly did less for the seamers than they were expecting and, in fact, played very well.
Being bowled out for 214 on a difficult surface offering seam movement or in swinging conditions is one thing, but on what looked to be a pretty true and typical Chinnaswamy surface was difficult to explain.
As well as India’s bowlers performed, I have no doubt that the Proteas will accept responsibility for an innings that was more about batting mistakes than wicket-taking deliveries. They all know where they went wrong and how to try and put it right in the second innings.
AB was at his majestic best and deserved better support. Sometimes it simply works out that the team has to bat around one man. Sometimes one member of the top order is seeing (and hitting) th ball better than everyone else and everyone else must simply be there for him and build partnerships. It is not always AB – but often is!
I often talk about the importance of decision making when batting and that’s where it went wrong for South Africa. Some batsmen like to play on instinct alone, or play ‘naturally’ in every situation, but I think there are times when you need to ask yourself which shots are appropriate and remind yourself that not every situation is the same.
Ashwin and Jadeja both bowled well but they weren’t getting excessive spin and did little more than put the ball in the right place more often than not. I’m sure they will both admit that they have had to work harder for their wickets in the past.
It was a bitter blow losing both Vernon and Dale before the game but, as Hashim said the day before, series are won by squads, not XIs.
The Proteas need to find a way to fight their way back into the Test match, it’s the least that AB deserves. If there is bad weather around then so be it, the players will leave other people to worry about that.