BADRINATH FEELS SA BATSMEN WILL STRUGGLE AT NAGPUR

• Subramaniam Badrinath, skipper of Vidarbha, felt the Nagpur wicket will test South Africa's batting capabilities.


• "The odds are certainly in favour of India.The track here doesn't provide much bounce," Badrinath said.


• The Nagpur Test begins from November 25 (Wednesday).

Subramaniam Badrinath shares a special bond with Nagpur. He made his Test debut against South Africa in Nagpur in 2010 and scored a patient half-century against the likes of Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel. However, big hundreds by Hashim Amla and Jacques Kallis and Steyn's memorable spell hardly gave India any chance. Badrinath never got to settle in the Indian squad after that.

Now the captain of Vidarbha, predicts challenging times ahead for the struggling South African batting line-up in the Nagpur Test.

"Having seen the nature of the Jamtha track for the last couple of years, the odds are certainly in favour of India.The track here doesn't provide much bounce. As the game progresses, it assists the spinners more and more. I feel this track will test South African batsmen's skills," Badrinath told TOI on Saturday (November 21).

Badrinath said if Steyn doesn't get fit in time, it would be even harder for the visitors as he has the ability to reverse the ball. "The only trump card for South Africa will be reverse swing. I think Steyn's spell last time here was remarkable," the 35-year-old said. Murali Vijay and Ravichandran Ashwin, his former Tamil Nadu teammates, have come a long way in the last couple of years. While Vijay is providing solidarity to India's top-order, Ashwin has become a match-winner, especially in home conditions.

"It's good to see them do well for the country. The biggest improvement in Vijay's batting is knows where his off stump is. He plays a lot of balls, bats for long periods.His head is in right position more often than not. Another aspect  is his maturity, Badrinath said.

According to Badrinath, Ashwin will once again be key for India. "I think he will enjoy bowling here. He has so many options. He can bowl the doosra, he can bowl the wrong one, he can bowl the carrom ball."

© cricketonline.org

written by ~ CHARITHARDHA