Impact Players - India/RSA ('06-'07 Series)

Name: S Sreesanth

Series stats:

Bowling:
Wickets: 18
Best Figures: 5-40 in 1st Test at Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg

Batting:
Runs scored: 51
Average: 10.20
Highest score: 28 runs in 2nd Test at Kingsmead, Durban

Best performances:
Bowling: 5-40 in 1st Test at Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg
Batting: 28 runs in 2nd Test at Kingsmead, Durban

The ‘Kerala Express’ runs over South Africa:

© Getty Images

India always had a problem of winning Test matches consistently on foreign soil, mainly because of their failure to take 20 wickets in the game. The subcontinent team had a mixed blend of bowling styles on this tour with Kumble and Zaheer being the senior bowlers while S Sreesanth, VRV Singh and Munaf Patel comprising the youth. It was a breakthrough series for Sreesanth as the swinging and pacy conditions in South Africa suited his style of bowling.

In the first Test at Johannesburg, the highly exciting fast bowler from Kerala derailed the Proteas batting line-up on day 2. His lethal banana out-swingers were too hot to handle for the South African top-order. Sreesanth got rid of Smith, Kallis, Amla, Boucher and Pollock in the space of a few overs. The hosts were rattled out for a humiliating total of 84 runs in reply to India’s first innings total of 249. The ‘Kerala Express picked up his maiden five-wicket haul in an innings and finished with figures of 5-40. The Indian seamer backed up his first innings performance with a 3 wickets in the second. The visitors went on to pick up a historic victory in the first Test and Sreesanth pocketed the Man of the Match award for his 8-wicket haul in the match.

In the Durban Test too, Sreesanth was highly impressive picking up yet another eight wickets in the Test match. But this time he ended up on the losing side as the African team picked up a convincing 174-run victory. The enthusiastic Keralite’s performance was below par in the final Test as he managed to pick only two wickets. India eventually went on to lose the third Test and the series by a 1-2 margin. But the Indian team got a new pace bowler in the face of Sreesanth.

‘The Kerala Express’ will probably be most remembered for his on-field confrontations with Andre Nel and other South African players during this tour. But in the end, cricket needs such entertaining characters to keep the sport alive.
 

Name: Shaun Pollock

Series stats:

Bowling:
Wickets: 13
Best Figures: 4-39 in 1st Test at Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg

Batting:
Runs scored: 187
Average: 37.40
Highest score: 63* in 2nd Test at Kingsmead, Durban

Best performances:
Bowling: 4-39 in 1st Test at Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg
Batting: 63* in 2nd Test at Kingsmead, Durban

Pollock’s all-round threat scatters India:

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Apart from Anil Kumble, Shaun Pollock was another experienced campaigner in the bowling department from either side. But this easy going seamer from South Africa was a different bowler from what he was during his initial phase in international cricket. His pace dropped considerably, his sharpness was no longer the same. But he still had his nagging consistency and lethal swing control. Batting was something Pollock worked on over the years and he became a dangerous batter down the order.

In the first Test, which the Proteas lost by 123 runs, Pollock’s contribution was very significant compared to his team-mates. He was the chief destroyer of the Indian batting department in both innings, taking four and three wickets respectively. He played an entertaining knock of 40 runs in the second innings but in a losing cause.

The South African all-rounder contributed more with the bat rather than the ball in the Kingsmead Test. He played an unbeaten knock of 63 runs, his 16th Test fifty, an innings which was very crucial in the context of the game as it helped the hosts set India a target of 354 runs on the final day. India went on to lose the Test match by 174 runs and the series was levelled at 1-1.

In the final Test at Cape Town, Pollock displayed his true all-round skills as he made valuable contributions to help his nation clinch the match as well as the series on the final day. He was the most consistent bowler in the series as he picked four wickets in the Indian first innings. Shaun returned with the bat to share an important 69-run stand with Boucher for the 7th wicket during the Proteas innings.

The experienced all-rounder’s knock-out punch came in the final innings of the series when South Africa were chasing a target of 211 runs on day 5. Pollock was surprisingly promoted to bat at number four in the line-up in order to upset the Indian bowler’s rhythm with some aggressive stroke play. He didn’t disappoint as he scored a worthy 37 runs and was involved in a match-defining 72-run partnership with skipper Graeme Smith. South Africa went on to win that Test match by 5 wickets.

Though he didn’t win a single Man of the Match award in the entire series, he ran away with the Player of the Series honour for his tally of 13 wickets and 187 runs in the series. It can be rightly said that it was because of Pollock’s priceless experience the Proteas claimed the series after being 1-0 down after 1st Test.
 

Name: Ashwell Prince

Series stats:

Batting:
Runs scored: 306
Average: 61.20
Highest score: 121 runs in the 2nd Test at Kingsmead, Durban

Best performance:
Batting: 121 runs in the 2nd Test at Kingsmead, Durban

Prince rules the batting tally:

© Getty Images

The 2006-07 Test series between India and South Africa witnessed many cricketers making their mark in world cricket and Ashwell Prince was one of them. Ever since the retirement of Gary Kirsten, Ashwell Prince has taken over the job of the sheet anchor for the Proteas very beautifully. Even though he comes to bat in the middle-order, Prince does a great job of marshalling the tail-enders and playing a crucial knock in crisis situations. His hunger for runs can be clearly seen from his performances in this series.

In the first Test, Ashwell Prince showed great fighting spirit while chasing a huge target of 402 runs. The way he played, Prince deserved a Test ton to his name but he was eluded from the milestone after being dismissed on 97 by Kumble. His gritty knock included 11 cracking boundaries. Prince’s efforts went in vain as South Africa fell 123 runs short of the target.

After being eluded of his 5th Test ton in the Johannesburg Test, Prince didn’t let lightning strike him twice. He played an outstanding knock of 121 runs which came off 212 balls. This particular knock holds significance as it was achieved under testing conditions when the home team was struggling at 28-3 on day 1. South Africa scored 328 runs in the first innings largely due to Prince’s ton. Unfortunately, Ashwell was dismissed for a duck in the second innings. But South Africa went on to win that Test match by 174 runs.

In the final Test too, the southpaw made a useful contribution of an unbeaten 38 runs in the second innings. The Proteas emerged victorious in the Cape Town Test and Ashwell Prince ended the series as the highest run-getter. He notched up 306 runs at a healthy average of 61.20.

- Rohan Tawde