Follow UsAs South Africa’s lead swelled past the 500-run mark in the Guwahati Test, on November 25 (Tuesday), there was the pertinent question: Why are they not declaring the innings? Earlier in the day, South African batter Tristan Stubbs revealed that they were looking at time, rather than the number of overs they would want India to bat on day four.
Now, their head coach, Shukri Conrad, opened up on the decision to declare late, stating that they wanted to keep the ‘hard new ball’ going, which was why the visitors kept on batting in the Guwahati Test.
“Yeah, a few factors. We obviously looked at how best we were going to use the new ball, so that we don’t. In the morning we still want a newish, hard-ish ball because also 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,” Conrad said at the post-day press conference.
Conrad also used a term that has since then gone viral, stating that the Proteas wanted India to really ‘grovel’, and bat the hosts India completely out of the game. South Africa haven’t won a Test series in India since 1999/2000 when they won the two-match series 2-0. But a very good opportunity presents itself on day five, with India still requiring 522 runs for a win.
“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 steer afraid, bat them completely out of the game, and then say to their well-cupped, survive on the last day and an hour this evening,” he added.
“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.”
India already find themselves in a tricky situation in the record run chase, as the Men in Blue have been reduced to 27/2 in the 16 overs that they faced late on day four of the Guwahati Test.