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Former South African fast bowler Allan Donald believes that India will face a tough challenge in the second Test against Proteas in Cape Town. According to Donald, bowlers need to be more creative as the pitch is expected to become more flat as the match progresses. He emphasised that the honesty of both teams will be tested in the final Test, anticipating changes in the bowling units for both South Africa and India. The Proteas will be without Gerald Coetzee due to injury, and India are likely to include Ravindra Jadeja, who sat out the first game.
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“Come Cape Town, it will be hard work and there will be a lot more energy from both teams. Cape Town will be hard work and it will bring honesty out of both the attacks”, Donald said.
"You need to be more creative in Cape Town as wickets are a lot more flatter and partnerships will stretch and that's traditionally as someone who knows it will be tougher Tests," he further added.
Bowling Plan in Cape Town
Donald outlined the strategy for both teams in Cape Town, suggesting that they should capitalise on swing in the first innings for a minimum of 30 overs. He emphasised that bowlers will need to show great determination, possibly relying on bouncers to challenge the batter, requiring them to exert more effort and potentially induce dismissals.
"But your first innings bowling could reward you, if you pitch the new ball a bit fuller and try to swing it for the first 25 to 30 overs. And then start mixing your pace," former star pacer said.
"When the partnership stretches longer, you need to have two guys who need to bowl short and full. Your spinner will keep one side nice and tight while seamers operate from one end. As the game goes long and the partnership stretches, reverse swing comes into effect," Donald added.
In the initial Test match, India's pacers notably Prasidh Krishna and Shardul Thakur, struggled, and Donald noted that South Africa's disciplined approach paid off. On the other hand, he observed that India made the mistake of experimenting with various strategies.
“I know South Africa probably got the better of the conditions, no questions about that. They pitched the ball in a 5 and 5.5-meter area and gave it a chance to do something off the deck. But what they did better than India…they were more patient in that area and even they used the short ball a little bit more in the second innings,” the 57-year-old concluded.
(Powered by AI, Inputs by India Today)
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