India vs South Africa: Ntini, Donald predict intense battle in Test series

The
first
Test
begins
in
Centurion
from
December
26.
India
are
primed
for
their
maiden
success
in
South
Africa,
having
lost
1-2
in
2018
when
the
hosts
boasted
the
likes
of
now-retired
AB
de
Villiers,
Faf
du
Plessis,
Hashim
Amla,
Vernon
Philander
and
Dale
Steyn.

“India
have
a
very
good
bowling
attack
this
time
around,
but
the
Proteas
know
the
South
African
conditions
better.
This
for
me
will
be
key,”
Ntini,
who
featured
in
the
2001
and
2006-07
home
series’
against
India,
said
in
a
CSA
release.

“We
have
to
back
ourselves
because
we
have
that
home
advantage.
Our
players
know
the
wickets
very
well
and
that
will
give
us
the
edge.”

Donald,
on
the
other
hands,
says
whichever
team
bats
better
will
win
the
series.
He
was
a
central
figure
in
the
1992-93
series
against
India
and
also
the
1996-97
series
win
on
home
soil.

“Both
teams
line
up
really
well,
both
have
strong
bowling
line-ups
and
that
will
mean
the
batting
on
both
sides
will
be
tested,”
said
Donald.

“Our
batting
has
lost
some
key
players
in
the
last
couple
of
seasons.
There’s
no
hiding
from
the
fact
that
it’s
a
young
line-up
and
they
will
be
tested
by
the
Indian
attack.

“For
me
that
is
where
the
series
will
be
decided.
In
the
last
few
seasons,
we
haven’t
scored
enough
runs
and
that
will
be
the
challenge.

If
we
can
put
the
runs
on
the
board,
we
undoubtedly
have
the
bowlers
who
can
take
20
wickets.”

Donald
played
72
Tests
for
South
Africa
taking
330
wickets.

He
said
that
India
have
worked
really
hard
for
success
overseas
tours.

“(Virat)
Kohli’s
comments
a
few
years
ago
were
that
you’ll
never
be
classed
as
a
great
side
if
you
don’t
win
away
from
home
and
that
has
been
something
he
really
worked
towards.
You
saw
them
win
in
Australia
and
also
reach
the
WTC
(World
Test
Championship)
Final.

“This
is
a
quality
Indian
team
that
is
here.
I’m
looking
forward
to
it.”

Nitni,
who
took
390
wickets
in
101
Tests,
has
different
take
on
the
two
teams.

“There’s
nothing
better
than
playing
at
home
in
familiar
surroundings,
especially
against
a
very
good
India
team,”
he
stated.

“We
have
the
likes
of
(captain)
Dean
Elgar
and
Temba
Bavuma,
who
have
the
ability
to
dig
in
and
score
big
runs
and
I
also
like
the
way
that
Rassie
(van
der
Dussen)
has
come
in
and
grown
in
that
team.

“Then
we
also
have
a
guy
like
Quinny
(de
Kock),
who
we
know
will
not
hold
back.
He
will
play
his
natural
game.”

In
a
nutshell,
he
feels
South
Africa
will
maintain
their
winning
streak
at
home.

“Then
when
it
comes
to
our
bowling
attack,
we
have
a
settled
unit
and
one
that
can
definitely
put
India
under
pressure.

“We
still
have
that
stranglehold
over
them
because
they’ve
never
won
here
and
I
don’t
think
that
will
change.
It
will
mean
a
lot
if
we
can
win,
but
I’m
hoping
to
see
some
good
cricket.”