Lost in anticipation8230;

The big problem for this three-Test series between India and South Africa is that it8217;s sandwiched between the CB Series in Australia...

The big problem for this three-Test series between India and South Africa is that it8217;s sandwiched between the CB Series in Australia, which India won, and the Indian Premier League IPL, which is promising to change the face of cricket. It8217;s hard to imagine that anybody, other than committed connoisseurs of the game8217;s longest format, would find it of much interest at such a time.

The MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chepauk, home of the IPL team Chennai Super Kings, is a testimony to this. None of its entrances, even the one leading to the famous Anna Pavilion 8212; which houses the 90-year-old Madras Cricket Club 8212; suggest that there8217;s a Test match to be played here this week. Instead, all the roads leading to the stadium, and the galleries inside, have huge blue-and-yellow hoardings of the Super Kings. The dilapidated cement stands, which for years told the story of poor facilities, are suddenly being replaced by colourful chairs. Yes, the IPL is coming.

The famed Indian batting line-up of Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly, VVS Laxman and Virender Sehwag spent a good three hours at the nets on Sunday morning but only a handful of autograph-hunting children gathered to cheer them. Chennai, as could have been expected, seemed unmoved by the Test match starting on Wednesday.

Be prepared

But Team India mustn8217;t get complacent. They are, after all, the world8217;s second-best Test team 8212; they have recorded victories in West Indies and England and the recent Perth triumph is something to build on. If one has to go by what all-rounder Jaccques Kallis says, the Proteas are not buying any of this IPL hype. One of Test cricket8217;s biggest challenges lies ahead, he stresses, and warns that his team will not take the series lightly.

8220;It was surprising to see how India played in Australia. There8217;s a lot of pace and bounce and to see them perform well was good. They were not always so good away from home. Their big strength is that they8217;ve stuck with experience, and have the right combination,8221; Kallis says.

It should indeed be a riveting contest for those who8217;re not too besotted by the thrills of one-day cricket and T20. The fact that South Africa are touring with four spinners 8212; two offies and two left-armers 8212; indicates how much of the role they expect spin to play over the three matches. But Kallis, who watched India take on the Australian pace battery Down Under, says how the home side8217;s top-order performs will be the key.

Target Sachin

Left-arm spinner Paul Harris has already marked Tendulkar as the batsman to concentrate on. 8220;He8217;s a great player. It8217;ll be important to contain him,8221; he says.

Story continues below this ad

The only other thing that could8217;ve worried South Africa as much is the hot and humid weather. But Kallis says the recent tour of Bangladesh has helped them tune in and that the lack of practice games won8217;t be a worry.

8220;I don8217;t think there8217;s going to be too much swing. The way the wicket8217;s prepared, it is going to be a spinner8217;s paradise. India have an experienced batting line-up and we need to think about that,8221; he said.