Celebrations, concerns and confirmations

Every international team in the world should have reason to be satisfied with travelling to India and returning with a share of a T20 International series – at least before a ball was bowled or smote over the boundary.

But having emphatically taken a 2-0 lead with resounding victories in Delhi and Cuttack the Proteas might have equal reason to feel disappointed.

The margin of their defeats in the third and fourth games in Visakhapatnam and Rajkot were as comprehensive as their victories before the final, deciding match in Bangalore was washed out after just 21 balls with India having lost both openers with just 28 runs on the board.

If South Africa had unanswered questions before the series began, it is as hard to imagine what they were as it is to guess if they were answered, at least from outside the squad.

Tristan Stubbs was the only uncapped player and, despite being capped twice, did not bat in either of his two appearances. Whether he ‘fitted in’ to international cricket and an established group of players will be known only to the management and senior players. He certainly appeared to from this side of the boundary.

The first game was the most extraordinary of the series. India’s contempt for South Africa’s spinners was evident with Keshav Maharaj (3-0-43-1) and Tabraiz Shamsi (2-0-27-0) conceding 70 runs in just five overs on a pitch traditionally favourable to spinners. But bowling against India’s best batsmen in Indian conditions was irrelevant if the measurement yardstick was preparation for the T20 World Cup in Australia in under 100 days.

India, however, were out-bullied during an eye-watering second innings in which Rassie van der Dussen and David Miller added an unbeaten 131 for the fourth wicket to complete South Africa’s highest successful run-chase. The question about Van der Dussen’s approach to building a T20 innings remains unanswered, despite his astonishing assault in the final overs which resulted in a match-winning 75 not out from 46 balls with seven fours and five sixes.

Van der Dussen laboured to 29 from 31balls, casually it appeared, and was then dropped at long-on with the required rate having soared above 14 runs per over and a debutant, Stubbs, the last specialist batsman. The reprieve saw him smash 14 runs off his next 14 balls to secure victory with five balls to spare.

But even that level of recovery would have been insufficient to win had Miller (64* from 31 balls, 4x4, 5x6) not been scoring at two runs per ball from the moment he arrived at the crease.

If there were any questions about Heinrich Klaasen’s quality as a reserve ‘keeper and batsman (and there shouldn’t have been) then he answered them emphatically with an innings of 81 from just 46 balls (7x4, 5x6) in the second match chasing a modest 149 for victory with 10 balls to spare.

Maharaj and Shamsi conceded 60 from six overs in the third game as India posted an above-par 179-5 and nobody reached 30 in the miserable reply of 131 all out in Visakhapatnam. It was even worse in Rajkot where the tourists were bowled out for an embarrassing 87 in reply to India’s 169-6.

Among the positives for the Proteas were the power-play and ‘death’ bowling of Wayne Parnell whose reintroduction to international cricket after a five-year hiatus now seems confirmed. The brave use of Dwaine Pretorius as booster-hitter at No 3 was a success and, given his skill, can be successful in any condition.

Despite what the grumblers might say, Miller has been a success for most of his international career and has now reached an unprecedented level of consistency.

But the immeasurable value of the tour is simply the time the squad spent together. As many as a dozen of them will be travelling to Australia in October for the World Cup in less than 100 days and the experience of a ridiculously impractical logistical itinerary spanning over 20 000km door-to-door may stand them in good stead.

Even if the playing conditions bore no resemblance to what they will face in Sydney, Brisbane and Canberra.