Proteas chasing rare treble

After wins in Pakistan and Bangladesh, visitors keen to conquer India

Cool-boxes overflowing with empty bottles of health drinks give ample evidence of the conditions in which the South Africans have just concluded their nets. While most players have moved to the dressing room, there are a few green-and-yellow shirts lingering on the ground. Wicket-keeper Mark Boucher is wearing a helmet and keeping wickets as spinners Paul Harris and Robin Peterson bowl to a batsman with a stump in his hands.

As the spinning ball flies after grazing the stump, Boucher tumbles to catch it. The Proteas are aware that such incidents will take place often over the next five days 8212; Boucher, Harris and Peterson working overtime to perfect the routine is not a bad idea. It8217;s the eve of the final Test; South Africa can smell the aroma of history-in-the-making and they are leaving no stone unturned.

When Harris finally moves towards the dressing-room, we take a chance and ask the South African media manager if the left-arm spinner will give us a few lines about the tricky track. He mocks at the idea, before adding with a smile: 8220;I8217;ll bring him to you when he takes eight wickets.8221; If Harris does spin South Africa to victory, they will become the undisputed number two team in the world and, more importantly, earn the reputation as a side that has mastered the sub-continent.

Winning a series in India is never easy. With victories in Pakistan and Bangladesh preceding this tour, a victory in India will give Smith and his men more medals on their chest than any of the previous masters of the region.

The skipper had this to say as he stood on the cusp of a historic moment: 8220;We8217;re the team that could win all three series in the sub-continent in one year 8212; that8217;s a fantastic achievement.8221;

Smith, who was captain when South Africa lost the Test series in India four years ago, talked about the turnaround. 8220;Our team was very different in 2004. A lot of guys were trying to find their feet. Right now we are a very confident outfit. Everyone knows their roles and we are ready to perform here,8221; he said.

Comparing the scoreboards of the series in 2004 and 2008 helps one understand what Smith means. Four years ago, the highest run-getter was Jacques Kallis and the highest wicket-taker was Makhaya Ntini. This time, too, the two old hands have performed but it8217;s younger players who have led the way. Kallis, with one ton in two Tests, averages more than 50 but less than Neil McKenzie, Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers. Ntini has taken nine wickets but Dale Steyn leads the charts with 12.

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But all these stats will become trivial if South Africa fail to clear the biggest hurdle that has been placed before them in Kanpur 8212; a 22-yard booby trap masquerading as the exit door as they get ready to end a famous Asian campaign.