India v South Africa in Tests: Super Spells

Fast bowling has had a larger say on the outcome of India-South Africa Tests over the years. Although, the spinners have had their fair share of success as well. Let us recap the finest spells over the years.

Allan Donald: 55-15-139-12
3rd Test: South Africa v India at Port Elizabeth, Dec 26-29, 1992

The home-side had won the toss and Wessels amazed most people by asking India to bat in fine conditions. Donald extorted plenty of life from a slow pitch and several Indians got out playing loose strokes. 

His figures were the fourth-best for South Africa at the time and Richardson was the first South African wicket-keeper to take nine catches in a Test. Donald’s hostile bowling fetched him 5 wickets in the first innings and these came at an economy rate of just over 2 runs per over. Although in the second innings he was comparatively more expensive, Allan was even more lethal and accounted for seven Indian wickets. South Africa won the Test by nine wickets. 1st Test: South Africa v India at Durban, Dec 26-28, 1996

© Getty Images Donald boasts of an incredible record against India with a tally of 57 wickets from just 11 Tests

Allan Donald: 27.1-9-54-9

Stirred bowling by Donald on a pitch of the like which most of the Indians had never seen before created a three-day finish. India's two innings required a mere 73.2 overs, with Donald claiming nine for 54. South Africa had earlier been bowled out for 235 courtesy stunning spells from Venkatesh Prasad and J Srinath. 

Allan produced what he himself manifested as one of the most lethal balls he had ever bowled. It uprooted Tendulkar's off stump, and not only came back at him, but also beat him for pace. Throughout the match he showed no mercy and was fruitfully rewarded on each occasion. The home team tasted victory and went up 1-0 in the series.

Harbhajan Singh: 51.3-9-141-9

2nd Test: India v South Africa at Kolkata, Nov 28-Dec 2, 2004

© AFP Bhajji upheld his fantastic record at the Kotla with a series-winning spell during the 2004 series

Harbhajan Singh reverted to the scene of his supreme triumph to inspire India to an eventually comfortable victory, but they were made to labour by a South African side that owed much to the determination of Kallis and the tireless efforts of their quicker bowlers. South Africa had managed just 305 on a placid track and India scored 411 before being bowled out. From then, it was ‘Bhajji time’. 

He foxed the batsmen and claimed seven wickets in the second innings alone. Demolition job complete, the Indians were left to achieve 117 for victory which they did with ease. 

S Sreesanth – 35-11-99-8
1st Test: South Africa v India at Johannesburg, Dec 15-18, 2006

In a startling reversal, India achieved their first Test win in South Africa, and what some observers thought was their best-ever away win. Their hero was Sreesanth, the wild and wacky seamer from Kerala playing only his sixth Test, who started South Africa's collapse for 84 in their first innings with a maiden five-for. 

There was no peculiarity in Sreesanth's actual delivery, which arrived with pace, aggression and a vertical seam. The South Africans had banged it in short, but Sreesanth pitched it up, full and straight, and was rightly rewarded with five of the first seven wickets - two lbw, two caught at second slip, one bowled. India won the match by 123 runs.

© AFP Sreesanth bowled India to a historic Test victory, Johannesburg, 2006

Shaun Pollock: 48.4-18-147-10
1st Test: South Africa v India at Bloemfontein, Nov 3-6, 2001

Pollock's alternative to bowl earned good returns in the short term - four wickets in 90 minutes - although his own aggression with the new ball brought him less reward than he warranted. South Africa's progress was halted by the tremendous mastery with which Tendulkar scored his 26th Test hundred. 

For the first three days of this Test, the cricket was belligerent and, for the most part, magnificent. The last two days were dominated by the home team and India had no reply to Pollock’s mastery with the red cherry. Pollock's accuracy and incisiveness was impeccable. Nine wickets went down for 129 runs and Pollock earned a Test haul of ten for the first time. Chasing 54, South Africa settled the argument by tea.

- Priya Ganoo