India lost to South Africa by 72 runs in the opening Test match of the three-match series on the bouncy Newslands pitch where 40 wickets fell in nine sessions.
However, an interesting thing to observe during South Africa’s batting in the first innings was their run-rate. Even though the ground was good for bowling, yet their run rate was over 4, and there was a time when it was even 4.5. The Proteas batters were looking to score runs even when conditions were not in their favour. AB de Villiers scored 65 runs off 84 balls, Keshav Maharaj’s 35 off 47 and, Quinton de Kock’s 43 off 40.
And this was possible because South African coach Ottis Gibson encouraged his batsman to play attacking and positive shots even on the pitches that helped pace and bounce.
“If you think on a wicket like this as a batsman that there is always a ball with your name on it, then the simple approach is to make sure you get your runs before that ball gets you,” Gibson said.
“Try and play positively. In the first innings we lost wickets but we still scored positively and we got bowled out for 280,” he added.
“The pitches will lend themselves to pace and seam movement and batsmen have to adapt accordingly, but ultimately batsmen have to score runs while they’re there,” Gibson said.
“If you bat for 15 overs and score no runs and then you get out, you haven’t really moved the game forward. The message that I’ve been giving to the guys out in the middle is to try as best they can to get runs before that ball gets you,” Gibson added.