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This is an archive article published on April 3, 2008

Breaking it Down

After the featherbed in Chennai, all eyes are on the strip at the Motera. The pitch has a tinge of green on it that has put...

The Twenty-Two Yards

After the featherbed in Chennai, all eyes are on the strip at the Motera. The pitch has a tinge of green on it that has put a smile on Graeme Smith8217;s face. But the grass is present more for binding purposes and isn8217;t expected to overtly assist the quick men. At the same time, the curator will be keen to ensure the bowlers get something out of the pitch, just in case this

Test becomes a repeat of the one played at Chepauk last week.

Team News

8226; India are toying with the idea of playing

Irfan Pathan in place of the injured Sachin Tendulkar in an attempt to pick 20 South African wickets.

8226; Laxman will move up the order thanks to Tendulkar8217;s absence.

8226; Ishant Sharma didn8217;t bowl too many in the nets yesterday and is an unlikely starter.

8226; South Africa are unlikely to change their combination.

History Lessons

8226; India have won three, lost one and drawn four in eight matches played at Sardar

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Patel Stadium, Ahmedabad, where the second Test between India and South Africa will be played starting tomorrow.

8226; Built on the banks of the Sabarmati river on the outskirts of Ahmedabad, the stadium is an imposing structure which can accommodate approximately 48,000 spectators.

8226; Also known as the Motera, after the place where it is located, the venue hosted its first Test in November 1983 and has been witness to some memorable Indian feats 8212; Sunil Gavaskar got to his 10,000th Test run here, against Pakistan in 1986-87, and seven years later, Kapil Dev nailed his 432nd victim to go past Richard Hadlee as Test cricket8217;s leading wicket-taker.

8226; The pitch here used to aid bowlers 8212; three of the first four Tests produced results 8212; but of late the track has played slow and low, aiding neither the bowlers nor the strokeplayers.

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8226; India have won three of the eight Tests they have played at this venue, drawing four and losing one. South Africa have lost the only game they have played here, in 1996.

HIGHEST INNINGS TOTALS

583-7 decl India vs New Zealand in 1999-2000

500-5 decl India vs New Zealand in 2003-04

407 England vs India in 2001-02

398 India vs Sri Lanka in 2005-06

395 Pakistan vs India in 1986-87

LOWEST INNINGS TOTALS

103 India vs West Indies in 1983-84

105 South Africa vs India in 1996-97

119 Sri Lanka vs India in 1993-94

190 India vs South Africa in 1996-97

201 West Indies vs India in 1983-84

HIGHEST INDIVIDUAL SCORES

222 Rahul Dravid Ind vs NZ in 2003-04

217 Sachin Tendulkar Ind vs NZ in 1999-00

152 M Azharuddin Ind vs SL in 1993-94

125 Sourav Ganguly Ind vs NZ in 1999-00

121 Craig White Eng vs India in 2001-02

BEST BOWLING IN AN INNINGS

9-83 Kapil Dev Ind vs WI in 1986-87

7-62 Harbhajan Singh Ind vs SL in 2005-06

7-115 Anil Kumble Ind vs Eng in 2001-02

6-21 Javagal Srinath Ind vs SA in 1996-97

6-87 Venkatapathy Raju Ind vs SL in 1993-94

BEST BOWLING IN A MATCH

11-125 V Raju Ind vs SL 8217;93-94

10-135 Kapil Dev Ind vs WI in 1983-84

10-141 Harbhajan Singh India vs SL in 05-06

10-233 Anil Kumble Ind vs Eng in 2001-02

7-69 Allan Donald SA vs India in 1996-97

Last Time Around

India vs SA, November 20-23, 1996

India won the toss and elected to bat

BRIEF SCORES: India 223 Sachin Tendulkar 42; Allan Donald 4-37 and 190 VVS Laxman 51; Allan Donald 3-32, Paul Adams 3-30 beat South Africa 244 Fanie de Villiers 67 not out; Sunil Joshi 4-43 and 105 Hansie Cronje 48 not out; Javagal Srinath 6-21, Anil Kumble 3-34

Result: India won by 64 runs

Man of the Match: Javagal Srinath